Posted on 09/01/2017 1:53:19 PM PDT by Bullish
A federal judge in New Jersey rejected Sen. Bob Menendez’s request to allow breaks in his criminal trial in order to fulfill his Senate duties, excoriating the senator for seeking “special treatment.”
Menendez’s lawyers filed a motion requesting that his upcoming criminal trial take recesses any time the senator is needed in Washington on official business. They argued that forcing the senator to leave an ongoing trial to attend to congressional business would violate his due process rights.
“A trial taking place during a session of Congress risks involuntarily denying Senator Menendez his rights to due process and confrontation, unless he elects to forego his constitutional duty to cast his vote on critical issues pending before Congress so that he can be present in the courtroom,” his lawyers argued.
U.S. District Judge William Walls appeared irritated by the request in a Friday order dismissing the motion.
“The court will not serve as concierge to any party or lawyer,” Walls wrote. “The motion – from a practical perspective – is nigh frivolous.”
He further added that he suspected the motion was part of a broader strategy to “impress the jurors” with Menendez’s importance.
The judge further said that most defendants have similar obligations, which the court does not accommodate.
“Defendant Menendez claims that he is in a ‘unique situation’ because his voting duties are ‘on a schedule not of his own making.’ But so are the duties of the radio repairman, the cab driver, and the businessman. Yet none would claim the right to dictate the schedule of their own criminal trial,” he wrote.
The senator has previously attempted to leverage his office in the course of the current prosecution. He attempted to escape indictment by arguing his activities were protected by the Constitution’s speak and debate clause, which protects lawmakers from prosecution in connection with official legislative work.
He faces 14 felony counts of various corruption charges.
Judge’s correct answer...”Bull Sheite!!!”
Mark my word, this POS will skate just like Hillary. When you are a member of “The Club” you don’t have to worry about punishment.
He’s already had 5 years longer than any of us would have. Let Christie replace him with a Republican.
There's been some dem congress critters who didn't skate. Your name has to be Clinton to gaurante a whitewash.
Under the speech and debate clause, the judge cannot require Menendez to be in court when Congress is in session.
Seems the judge doesn’t care about that , huh?
It’s likely that he’s guilty as hell, but no more so than a number of other Dhimmicraps.
Why Menendez particularly, while the rest skate? Did you notice that he was just about the only Democrat to oppose Hussein in Cuba policy and the Iran deal?
Christie will replace with a NJ RINO
Like most judges, this one doesn’t give a flying you-know-what about the Constitution, which the judge neither knows nor respects.
Which is only slightly better.
(RINOs can give you just as much socialism, but for a little discount.)
Yes, I know he went against Barky and shortly thereafter he was charged by Barky’s DOJ. I don’t think he has many friends in Congress on either side at this point.
I think he will get convicted.
I didn’t catch his party. Could anybody inform me?
Will he or will he not appoint a Republican in time? Sessions should make him an offer he can’t refuse. Wouldn’t Clinton or the Kenyan?
You’re joking right? If so, then good one. If not, well he’s a dem of course.
As the US Supreme has ruled, it can never be a duty of a public official to commit a crime. Crimes are ALWAYS committed in a personal capacity.
When he committed the specified crimes,didn’t any rights as a senator go down the drain? Otherwise how could these people ever be prosecuted for anything?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.