Judge rejects Sen. Menendez's claims that legislative immunity protects him from bribery charges
A New York judge has rejected Sen. Bob Menendez's attempt to toss out four charges against him on grounds that he has legislative immunity
NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Bob Menendez cannot escape federal prosecution on grounds that he has legislative immunity from four conspiracy charges alleging that he accepted bribes including cash and gold bars in exchange for delivering favors to three New Jersey businessmen, a judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan said in a written ruling that charges alleging the New Jersey Democrat accepted bribes from three businessmen in return for legislative favors cannot be dropped on grounds that members of Congress get extra protection from some laws for what they do in the legislative sphere.
He said criminal intent cannot be protected by wording in the Constitution meant to protect information sharing by legislators.
“The fact that this information sharing is part of a corrupt scheme prevents a characterization of those discussions as legislative acts,” he wrote.
