Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman has announced plans to return campaign donations received from New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who is currently facing indictment for alleged involvement in a bribery scheme.
The donations, amounting to $5,000, were made by Menendez's PAC in 2022 to support Fetterman's campaign in a critical Senate race.
Joe Calvello, a spokesperson for Fetterman, stated, "We are in process of returning the money in envelopes stuffed with $100 bills." This unconventional method of refunding the donation is a pointed reference to the allegations against Menendez.
Federal prosecutors have accused Menendez and his wife of accepting lavish bribes, including hundreds of thousands of dollars, a Mercedes, gold bars, and other valuable items. These bribes were allegedly given to "protect and enrich" three New Jersey businesspeople and "to benefit the Government of Egypt."
Evidence against Menendez, released last Friday by prosecutors, included photographs of gold bars and cash found in various locations within Menendez's New Jersey home. One image depicted cash stacked on jackets bearing Menendez's name.
In a surprising twist, Menendez attempted to justify the discovery of $480,000 in cash by referencing his Cuban heritage. "For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba," he stated at a press conference on Monday. He further explained that the money was lawfully earned over the past three decades.
Fetterman was the first Democratic Senator to call for Menendez's resignation in light of the allegations. "Senator Menendez should resign," Fetterman declared on Saturday. "He's entitled to the presumption of innocence under our system, but he is not entitled to continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations."
Despite growing calls for his resignation from fellow Democratic senators, Menendez announced on Monday that he will not step down, assuring his supporters that he will be "totally exonerated."
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