Allies of former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have approached the White Home on his behalf a number of instances for the reason that fall to see if President Joe Biden could be prepared to pardon him, based on 4 individuals accustomed to 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 individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned.
Menendez advised individuals near him even earlier than the November election that he may need a greater probability of securing clemency from Trump, two individuals with direct information of his feedback mentioned. And in current weeks, he has mentioned with individuals near him whether or not he could be extra profitable with Trump if he sought a sentence commutation reasonably than a full pardon, three individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned.
Menendez is going through probably years in jail after he was convicted on federal corruption costs in July, with federal prosecutors final week recommending a sentence of no less than 15 years.
Menendez, who pleaded not responsible to the fees, resigned from the Senate in August. He’s 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 International Relations Committee, will not be significantly shut. Their relationship has been contentious at instances, with disagreements over high-profile points corresponding to Iran and extra not too long ago over Biden’s willingness to maneuver towards Republicans on immigration insurance policies, which Menendez referred to 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, based on a supply near Trump. However two individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned the previous senator has instructed to individuals 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 Home and the Trump workforce didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The New Jersey senator’s co-defendants have been additionally discovered responsible.
Longtime Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti, who serves within the White Home as counselor to the president, was amongst these approached a few pardon for Menendez, two individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned. Ricchetti was noncommittal, they mentioned, however the takeaway for Menendez was that Biden can be unlikely to do it.
Ricchetti declined to remark.
The previous senator later tried to achieve traction on a pardon from Biden by way of third-party outreach to different individuals near the president, two individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned.
Menendez has additionally used emissaries in discussions with the Trump transition workforce, together with Jewish leaders in New Jersey, two individuals accustomed to the discussions mentioned. Menendez was a fierce advocate for Israel throughout his time in public workplace and has leveraged his sturdy ties to the Backyard State’s Jewish communities.
As a part of his efforts to achieve clemency from Trump, Menendez has checked out Trump’s 2020 choice to commute the sentence of former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Blagojevich was convicted of corruption costs associated to his solicitation of bribes to affect his choice 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 discovered Menendez responsible in July on costs that he accepted bribes — together with money and gold bars — to learn the governments of Egypt and Qatar, in addition to extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and appearing as a international agent.
Menendez’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, was additionally charged and pleaded not responsible. She might 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, mentioned that “years of selling his office to the higher bidder have finally come to an end.”
Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed he was prosecuted by a weaponized Division of Justice, which two Menendez allies mentioned the previous senator might additionally use to curry favor with the president-elect and argue he too was prosecuted by a corrupt DOJ. They mentioned it may be used as a justification for Trump if he have been to pardon Menendez.
Katherine Doyle contributed.
