Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, a Democratic candidate for Congress, is calling on upcoming primary opponent U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) to return the $20,000 he received from his father U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) leadership PAC.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“With his father Senator Bob Menendez’s trial on multiple felonies, including being an agent of foreign governments, as well as interfering in criminal investigations, in return for cold hard cash and gold bars, now underway, it is the time for Rob Menendez Jr. to demonstrate at least an inch or so of independence from the Menendez machine,” Bhalla said in a statement.
“I call on Rob Menendez Jr. to return the $20,000 his campaign has received from his father, Senator Bob Menendez’s leadership PAC.”
At the New Jersey Globe debate that had Bhalla meeting Rep. Menendez head-to-head in a virtual affair, there was an opportunity for the candidates to ask each other a question and Bhalla asked if the congressman would return the aforementioned donations.
“As I mentioned at the beginning in my opening, I knew that ultimately you would want to keep interjecting my father into this and it’s unfortunate because we’re really here to talk about our track record of delivering for the 8th Congressional District, talking about the broad coalition of support that we have, but I haven’t given any consideration to what I’m gonna do with any particular contribution whether from my father or anybody else.”
When Bhalla replied that it was troubling he hadn’t even considered it given that Senator Menendez had been indicted four times, he went on to say that Rep. Menendez’s campaign is fueled by super PACs and special interests.
“If we’re talking about contributions and who we’re accountable to, half of your contributions come from the state of California, so it’s almost like you’d be a representative out there in the San Jose area than you would of the residents of the 8th Congressional District,” the incumbent responded.
Bhalla again went on offense as Senator Menendez’s federal corruption trial has begun with the jury selection process this week, with the defendant accused of acting as foreign agent to Egypt, facilitating a deal with the government of Qatar, and accepting cash and gold bars as bribes, among other things.
The primary election is on June 4th, which also features a third Democrat in the race, first time candidate Kyle Jasey.
Can Ravi return the benefit of the Terror Flier?
Do you know the way to San Jose ?
Pay your taxes first Ravi. Then perhaps you can criticize Menendez for taking the money. Until then shut up.