Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Sunday known as for Sen. Robert Menendez‘s (D-N.J.) resignation after federal prosecutors in New York filed a large corruption indictment in opposition to him.
The 39-page indictment accuses Menendez and his spouse of accepting bribes — within the types of money, gold bars, a luxurious automobile and extra — from three New Jersey businessmen to additional the curiosity of the Egyptian authorities. The New Jersey congressman denied the allegations in a statement on Friday, including that he believes he’s the goal of a conspiracy.
Ocasio-Cortez addressed Menendez’s indictment on a Sunday episode of CBS Information’ “Face The Nation.”
“The state of affairs is sort of unlucky, however I do imagine that it’s in one of the best curiosity for Senator Menendez to resign on this second,” the New York congresswoman mentioned.
Whereas Ocasio-Cortez mentioned that it’s vital for Menendez to be assumed harmless till confirmed responsible, she maintained that the indictment is “extraordinarily severe.”
She continued: “And whereas, you realize, as a Latina, there are completely methods in which there’s systemic bias, however I feel what’s right here on this indictment is sort of clear. And I imagine [it] is in one of the best curiosity to keep up the integrity of the seat.”
Ocasio-Cortez joined the ranks of different Democrats, together with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), in calling for Menendez to resign. To date, Menendez has refused and is expected to continue resisting the pleas.
“These behind this marketing campaign merely can’t settle for {that a} first-generation Latino-American from humble beginnings may rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction,” Menendez, who was additionally indicted on bribery prices in 2015, mentioned.
Menendez was accused of taking bribes from a Florida physician to push ahead his pursuits, however the case concluded with a hung jury and the case was dismissed by a choose in 2017.
