Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) accused Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) of throwing his “wife under the bus” on Thursday, a taunt that follows reports he plans to blame Nadine Menendez for alleged misconduct in a federal corruption case.
Bob Menendez, who is being prosecuted for the second time in his career over allegations he abused his office for personal gain, has pleaded not guilty to charges he acted on behalf of three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Bob Menendez was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before stepping down in September.
His wife, who received gifts including a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for alleged political favors, has been charged on nearly all the same counts, though she, too, maintains her innocence.
Nadine Menendez’s apparent role as a go-between for Menendez’s alleged co-conspirators could be central to his defense, according to court filings unsealed on Tuesday. The senator may argue that his wife withheld information that “led him to believe that nothing unlawful was taking place.”
Fetterman, who mocks Bob Menendez as “Bobby Gold Bars” due to the stash of valuables found at his New Jersey home, said the senator had outdone himself with the defense. He has repeatedly called on Bob Menendez to resign over the charges.
“I think he was challenged, like, ‘Well, how could I be more gross?’ And I guess he thought, ‘Well, no, maybe I can consider throwing my wife under the bus,’” Fetterman said.
Bob Menendez’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
The charges, which include Bob Menendez’s alleged intervention in the state prosecution of a New Jersey colleague, have loomed large over his reelection bid. He missed the deadline to run as a Democrat in November but could mount a challenge as an independent.
He overcame corruption charges in 2018 when a hung jury could not agree on whether to convict him, but a seemingly unending news cycle has dogged him for months. The leading contender to replace him is progressive Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who represents the eastern suburbs of Philadelphia.
Bob Menendez was arraigned in court for the third time last month as the Justice Department filed new indictments against him, including on charges that he obstructed justice.
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Bob Menendez may testify at his trial, according to the New York Times, in which case he is expected to reveal communications with Nadine Menendez that would “tend to exonerate” him.
The couple, who have been married since 2020, will be tried separately after a “serious medical condition” delayed Nadine Menendez’s trial until July. The senator will appear in court starting in less than three weeks, on May 6.
