WASHINGTON — Allies of former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have approached the White House on his behalf a number of instances for the reason that fall to see if President Joe Biden is perhaps prepared to pardon him, in response to 4 folks aware of 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 folks aware of the discussions stated.
Menendez informed folks near him even earlier than the November election that he may need a greater likelihood of securing clemency from Trump, two folks with direct information of his feedback stated. And in current weeks, he has mentioned with folks near him whether or not he is perhaps extra profitable with Trump if he sought a sentence commutation quite than a full pardon, three folks aware of the discussions stated.
Menendez is going through doubtlessly years in jail after he was convicted on federal corruption charges in July, with federal prosecutors final week recommending a sentence of at least 15 years.
Menendez, who pleaded not responsible to the costs, resigned from the Senate in August. He is 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 Foreign Relations Committee, will not be notably shut. Their relationship has been contentious at instances, with disagreements over high-profile points comparable to Iran and extra just 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. But two folks aware of the discussions stated the previous senator has prompt to folks 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 House and the Trump group didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Longtime Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti, who serves within the White House as counselor to the president, was amongst these approached a few pardon for Menendez, two folks aware of the discussions stated. Ricchetti was noncommittal, they stated, however the takeaway for Menendez was that Biden can be unlikely to do it.
Ricchetti declined to remark.
The former senator later tried to achieve traction on a pardon from Biden by third-party outreach to different folks near the president, two folks aware of the discussions stated.
Menendez has additionally used emissaries in discussions with the Trump transition group, together with Jewish leaders in New Jersey, two folks aware of the discussions stated. Menendez was a fierce advocate for Israel throughout his time in public workplace and has leveraged his robust ties to the Garden State’s Jewish communities.
As a part of his efforts to achieve 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 expenses 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 found Menendez guilty in July on expenses 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 appearing as a overseas agent.
Menendez’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, was additionally charged and pleaded not responsible. She will likely 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 promoting his workplace to the upper bidder have lastly come to an finish.”
Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed he was prosecuted by a weaponized Department of Justice, which two Menendez allies stated the previous senator may 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 have been to pardon Menendez.
