White House: Ted Cruz is wrong about the Menendez charges

Washington Examiner ^ | MARCH 9, 2015 | 1:52 PM | SUSAN CRABTREE

[SoConPubbie]

The White House on Monday denied suggestions that an expected Justice Department indictment against Sen. Bob Menendez is political retribution for the senator's harsh criticism of the administration's negotiations with Iran to scale back its nuclear program.

Over the weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, strongly suggested that Justice is preparing corruption charges against Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat and the ranking member of the Foreign Relations committee, for breaking with the president on the talks with Iran.

"The coincidence is troubling," Cruz told CNN, "that that very week is when the Justice Department announces they're moving forward with criminal prosecutions. It raises a suggestion to other Democrats that if you dare part from the Obama White House, a criminal prosecution can be used potentially for political retribution."

The Justice Department has yet to indict Menendez despite a flurry of reports last week saying formal public corruption charges are coming soon. The Justice Department has spent years investigating the senator's relationship with a major donor.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[Fledermaus]

If the WH put this out then Cruz must be correct. If not then why Menendez? What about Schumer, Feinstein, et al? They maneveur government money to themselves all the time.

[CyberAnt]

I AGREE WITH TED.

[nascarnation]

Chicago Mob vs NJ Mob.

Intramural warfare may be fun here....

[SoConPubbie]

Intramural warfare may be fun here....

We can only hope the do a lot of damage to each other. :)

[BigEdLB]

Menendez shoulda kept it zipped, no matter how cute those nubile Dominican hookers were...

[RatRipper]

When have the Rats EVER prosecuted one of their own if they were towing the party line? Of course it is retaliation, initiated by by the most vindictive Presidents in US history.

[Lakeshark]

Ted did it again, put them on the defensive over there.

The bamster must be fuming. Ya gotta love it.

[USNBandit]

I thought it was an interesting premise until the Whitehouse denied it.......now I assume Sen. Cruz is on the mark.

[longfellow]

Now I know he’s right.

[PCPOET7]

I will believe that this is not politically motivated when Feinstein is gone after for the billions she funneled to her husband in government contracts.

[VeniVidiVici]

Obama didnt know about the pending prosecution of Menendez till he read about it in the NY times.

[Kenny Bunk]

Ted Tactics bad. Principles OK.

Menendez, to use technical language, is a no-good SOB rat bastard, crookeder than a snake going downstairs. Yeah, The Mombasa MF is going to round him up. Point is made Ted. Now, STFU.

Team Obama has so many "Republican" Senators by the short hairs that it is not productive worrying about Democrat Senators. Ted, where is the "Republican" resistance to The Obama Régime? I don't see it.

[Lakeshark]

I think you're correct.

That the white hut responded is a great sign, they're just advertising the obvious abuse of power, and now against a fellow demonrat.

Another chink in the bamsters armor exposed, another response using his (their) time that keeps them from doing something else even worse.

[Baladas]

Ted Cruz has far more credibility than any of the moonbats in the WH.

[Jane Long]

Of course it is retaliation, initiated by by the most vindictive Presidents in US history.

---

Bammy makes Nixon look like a mere piker.

[marron]

The Justice Department has spent years investigating the senator's relationship with a major donor.

But only pulled the trigger when he opened his yap.

Cruz is dead on the money. I'm sure they are investigating everyone. All the time. The ones who step out of line, the ones who even think about stepping out of line get a quiet warning over drinks.

Justice Roberts, how are things these days?

[Safetgiver]

Can you say “Beam me up, Scotty”?

[RitaOK]

I think I don’t follow your point of complaint, exactly.

Ted is hamstrung to pull off in the senate any act or action that gives him real achievement(s), which he wants and needs in order to make a more credible run for the WH. The GOP and the number of Democrats are lined up against him, leaving him only with his voice.

Honestly, I think Cruz may be running for the future, for another cycle, or for hoping to share the 2016 ticket as VP, depending on how things shake out with a nominee. The future nominee may need a proven conservative with real intellect to pull in the South.