A powerful Democrat's corruption conviction in a New York federal court has liberals wondering if Donald Trump might want to rethink his "weaponized government" theory.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) became the subject of much Trump-directed social media snark after he was found guilty of multiple charges of bribery and fraud linked to gold bars and cash found stashed across his New Jersey home.
"It's not too late for Bob Menendez to endorse Trump, snag an RNC speaking slot, and roll the dice on a pardon," wrote Media Matters' senior fellow Matt Gertz.
Quipped X user Benny, "He now qualifies for the Republican Presidential Nominee 2028."
The ruling arrived the same week Trump secured his party's presidential nomination after a historic New York City trial in which he was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's was just one of four criminal indictments to bear Trump's name. The former president stands accused of election racketeering in Georgia and election interference in Washington D.C.
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Trump's classified documents case in Florida federal court was dismissed this week by a judge he appointed in a ruling critics call "flat-out wrong" and "deeply dangerous."
Throughout court proceedings, Trump and his allies have contended, without evidence, he is the victim of a political witch hunt at the hands of Justice department doing President Joe Biden's bidding.
It was this theory that caught liberals' attention Tuesday.
"Many Democrats have called on Sen. Menendez (D) to resign since he was first indicted," wrote former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. "Republicans want to elect Trump president even after he was found guilty on 34 charges and awaits trial for more. Who's the 'party of law and order' again?"
"Results of the weaponized justice system in 2024 may turn out to be," wrote Politico's Kyle Cheney: "Bob Menendez goes to jail -Hunter Biden goes to jail -Trump faces no consequences in 4 cases and has lone conviction thrown out."
"Trump was convicted in the same state and Republicans claimed it was 'political persecution' and that the 'jury was biased' because they were from New York," replied commentator Brian Krassenstein. "Notice how no Democrats are shouting 'witch hunt' or 'he’s innocent.'"
"Good riddance," replied civil rights advocate John Aravosis. "I challenge any MAGA Republican to say the same about any Republican who has been convicted of any crime. They won’t. Because they’re a cult, and they don’t believe in justice, the rule of law, or America."
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Others noted the Supreme Court decided Trump enjoyed presidential immunity when he pressured the Justice Department to investigate the 2020 presidential election, a ruling that opened the door for Judge Aileen Cannon to dismiss his Florida case and left the future of his remaining criminal cases unclear.
"Senator Menendez is guilty," wrote X user Southpaw. "At least until the SCOTUS majority takes it up."
X user BHS went so far as to write a satirical opinion from Chief Justice John Roberts.
"Until such time as Congress elects to return to the sound economic policy of the gold standard, a member of Congress receiving gold bars do not fall within the meaning of 'a thing of value,'" his mock ruling reads.
Added journalist Marcy Wheeler, "Nothing like waiting to find out whether bribery is ALREADY legal, or whether Menendez will have to spend several years appealing to SCOTUS to make it so."
