Allies of former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have approached the White Home on his behalf a number of instances because the fall to see if President Joe Biden is perhaps keen to pardon him, in response to 4 individuals accustomed to the discussions. Left with the impression that he received’t obtain a pardon from Biden, Menendez has now shifted his focus onto President-elect Donald Trump, three individuals accustomed to the discussions stated.
Menendez advised individuals near him even earlier than the November election that he may need a greater likelihood of securing clemency from Trump, two individuals with direct data of his feedback stated. And in current weeks, he has mentioned with individuals near him whether or not he is perhaps extra profitable with Trump if he sought a sentence commutation fairly than a full pardon, three individuals accustomed to the discussions stated.
Menendez is dealing with probably years in jail after he was convicted on federal corruption fees in July, with federal prosecutors final week recommending a sentence of at the least 15 years.
Menendez, who pleaded not responsible to the costs, resigned from the Senate in August. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29. His pursuit of a pardon from the president underscores how involved the 71-year-old is about spending important time in jail.
Biden and Menendez, each Democrats and former chairmen of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, are usually not notably shut. Their relationship has been contentious at instances, with disagreements over high-profile points akin to Iran and extra lately over Biden’s willingness to maneuver towards Republicans on immigration insurance policies, which Menendez known as “truly shameful.”
Menendez, together with all Senate Democrats, voted to convict Trump throughout each of his impeachment trials, which the president-elect is unlikely to simply overlook, in response to a supply near Trump. However two individuals accustomed to the discussions stated the previous senator has prompt to individuals near him {that a} rejection of a pardon from Biden would possibly make Trump extra inclined to grant him clemency.
Menendez declined to remark.
Representatives for the White Home and the Trump group didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The New Jersey senator’s co-defendants had been additionally discovered responsible.
Longtime Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti, who serves within the White Home as counselor to the president, was amongst these approached a few pardon for Menendez, two individuals accustomed to the discussions stated. Ricchetti was noncommittal, they stated, however the takeaway for Menendez was that Biden could be unlikely to do it.
Ricchetti declined to remark.
The previous senator later tried to realize traction on a pardon from Biden via third-party outreach to different individuals near the president, two individuals accustomed to the discussions stated.
Menendez has additionally used emissaries in discussions with the Trump transition group, together with Jewish leaders in New Jersey, two individuals accustomed to the discussions stated. Menendez was a fierce advocate for Israel throughout his time in public workplace and has leveraged his sturdy ties to the Backyard State’s Jewish communities.
As a part of his efforts to realize clemency from Trump, Menendez has checked out Trump’s 2020 determination to commute the sentence of former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Blagojevich was convicted of corruption fees associated to his solicitation of bribes to affect his determination on who would fill Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat after he was elected president. He was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2011.
A jury discovered Menendez responsible in July on fees that he accepted bribes — together with money and gold bars — to profit the governments of Egypt and Qatar, in addition to extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and performing as a international agent.
Menendez’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, was additionally charged and pleaded not responsible. She can be tried individually. After the jury verdict, Damian Williams, the U.S. legal professional for the Southern District of New York, whose workplace prosecuted the case, stated that “years of selling his office to the higher bidder have finally come to an end.”
Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed he was prosecuted by a weaponized Division of Justice, which two Menendez allies stated the previous senator might additionally use to curry favor with the president-elect and argue he too was prosecuted by a corrupt DOJ. They stated it may be used as a justification for Trump if he had been to pardon Menendez.
Katherine Doyle contributed.
