TURD ALERT: ‘Gold Bar’ Sen. Bob Menendez Sitting On $3.5M Campaign Cash Despite $2M in Legal Bills: FEC Filings; Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez Gathering Signatures for Independent Senate Run in Bid to Save Political Career

‘Gold Bar’ Sen. Bob Menendez sitting on $3.5M campaign cash despite $2M in legal bills: FEC filings:

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez is still flush with campaign cash despite blowing through about $2 million as he battles his indictment in court and weighs a possible independent reelection bid to the Senate.

Menendez’s (D-NJ) campaign apparatus had $3.57 million cash on hand after raising about $19,632 and spending $2.1 million between the beginning of April and May 15, according to a Thursday filing with the Federal Election Commission.

His largest expenditure during that period was $2 million to Paul Hastings, a law firm for “legal services.” Menendez entered that period with $5.67 million cash on hand, per the filing.

Earnings came from over a dozen donors and included some revenue from interest he accumulated from several banks.

Back in March, Menendez announced that he wouldn’t seek a fourth full Senate term as a Democrat, but kept the door open to a run as an independent if he gets “exonerated” on federal corruption charges.

The Garden State Democrat is facing 18 criminal counts on allegations of corruption, bribery, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt and Qatar.

Menendez and his wife stand accused of accepting gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and other gifts from a trio of New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors.

He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is ongoing. Last week, his attorney pursued a unique defense strategy — blaming his wife, Nadine. —>READ MORE HERE

Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez gathering signatures for independent senate run in bid to save political career:

US Sen. Bob Menendez is petitioning to run for Senate as an independent candidate, in a last ditch attempt to save his political career.

The embattled New Jersey Democrat is facing federal charges of fraud, extortion, bribery and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt between 2018 and 2022 — while serving as chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Menendez, who bowed out of his state’s Democratic primary, has been personally collecting signatures to get ballot access, according to the New Jersey Globe.

The senator needs 800 valid signatures before the June 4 deadline to secure access to the 2024 ballot.

Should Menendez get on the ballot, his presence could throw a wrench into 2024 Senate races, and instantly put New Jersey in play for Republicans.

“We’re keeping a close eye on New Jersey,” Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee told The Post.

The political machinations could give Menendez leverage in his upcoming trial, which is expected to wrap around the end of June. —>READ MORE HERE

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