Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Friday that he was “not surprised” by the House vote to expel former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), but that he is more concerned about corruption allegations against the senator. Bob Menendez (DN-New Jersey).
“We have a colleague in the Senate who actually does much more sinister and serious things,” the 54-year-old said during an appearance on “The View.”
“Senator Menendez has to go,” Fetterman added, “and if Santos is going to be expelled, how can someone like Menendez be allowed to remain in the Senate?”
Fetterman argued that while Santos’ long list of lies “were almost funny,” the accusations against Menendez make him question the New Jersey Democrat’s loyalty to the United States.
“If Santos is going to be expelled, how can someone like Menéndez be allowed to remain in the Senate?” Fetterman said during an appearance on “The View.” REUTERS Menéndez was formally accused of bribery and corruption in September. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
“I think Menendez is really a senator from Egypt, you know, not from New Jersey. So I really think that he needs to go and especially it’s a little strange that if Santos is not allowed to stay in the House, you know, someone like that [is],” he said.
Menendez, 69, his second wife, the former Nadine Arslanian, and three associates were charged in September with bribery and conspiracy to act as foreign agents for Egypt. All five deny all charges.
Federal agents discovered three kilos of gold bars and nearly $500,000 in cash, some stuffed in Menendez’s jacket pockets, during a June 2022 raid at his Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home, which authorities say They were bribes.
Fetterman argued that the accusations against Menendez are more “sinister” than those against Santos. JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Menendez resigned from his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his impeachment, but refused to resign from the upper house and did not rule out running for re-election next year.
Fetterman, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and dozens of other Democrats in Congress have called on Menendez to resign his Senate seat.
The Garden State senator’s son, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), voted to expel Santos on Friday, joining all but seven House Democrats in supporting the resolution introduced by Rep. Anthony D’ Esposito (R-NY) and the House. Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) earlier this month.
Santos, the sixth member expelled from the House, faces a 23-count federal indictment for allegedly laundering his campaign money and defrauding donors. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and will stand trial in September next year.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn