The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said the prosecution of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is proof that the Department of Justice is not politicized.
Speaking with Politico, Damian Williams, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, said the prosecution of Menendez, a Democrat, could counter “a lot of cynicism” about the DOJ, especially from Republicans angry over the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
“It doesn’t matter that Senator Menendez is a Democrat and I was appointed by a Democrat,” he said. “It matters whether or not a crime took place. It matters whether or not we could prove it.”
There was little question as to whether or not to prosecute Menendez, Williams argued, as it was “a clear case of classic corruption, the kind of corruption that the law has always prohibited, and the type of corruption that the law will always prohibit.”
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On Tuesday, Menendez was found guilty on 16 federal counts including extortion, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, bribery, and conspiracy. The New Jersey Democrat has vowed to not resign, despite calls from Senate Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“I’m deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision,” Menendez said. “I have never violated my public oath. I’ve never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country.”
