Durbin equates Menendez indictments to Trump’s ‘equally serious charges’

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called the charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who was indicted this week on federal bribery charges alongside his wife, equally as serious as the charges brought against former President Donald Trump.

“It bears reminding us of what I’ve said about the indictments against Donald Trump, equally serious charges,” Durbin said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

HOW REPUBLICANS ARE EXPANDING THEIR REACH IN STATE ELECTIONS

“These are, in fact, indictments that have to be proven under the rule of law, the person who is accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and it’s the responsibility of the government to prove that case,” Durbin said. “I said that about Donald Trump, I’ll say the same thing about Bob Menendez.”

On Friday, the New Jersey senior senator was indicted for the second time in 10 years, after a 2015 indictment ended in a mistrial in 2018. In the latest investigation, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, were accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, which included a luxury car and gold bars.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Friday that Menendez will step down temporarily from serving as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, noting he has a right to due process and a fair trial.

“The Senate Democratic caucus has a hard and fast rule; When indicted, you lose your position in leadership or chairmanship of a committee,” Durbin said. “And that is what has happened with Senator Menendez. He lost the chairmanship of one of our most important committees, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which the president himself served as chairman of in years gone by.”

Democrats and Republicans have called for Menendez’s resignation, including Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) echoing the calls.

When asked if Durbin believes Menendez should step down from his Senate role, he said, “That’s a decision you made by Sen. Menendez and the people of New Jersey.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The 18-year incumbent faces reelection next year, potentially facing a tough battle after Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) announced on Saturday that he’ll challenge the senator in 2024 following the announcement of the indictment.

“Well, I can tell you that it’s a significant event; clearly it is,” Durbin said when asked if he thinks Menendez should run. “And whether or not he will run for reelection remains to be seen.”