TRENTON, NJ – On Thursday, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., proposed a resolution aimed at stripping certain congressional privileges from senators indicted for crimes impacting national security.
Though the resolution doesn’t explicitly name individuals, it is perceived as targeting Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, following accusations of accepting bribes from a foreign entity and conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.
The proposal comes on the heels of Menendez’s participation in a classified Ukraine briefing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which he chaired until his indictment. The resolution seeks to bar affected senators from serving on congressional committees, accessing classified information, submitting appropriation bill spending requests, and utilizing official funds for international travel.
Fetterman, the first Democratic senator to call for Menendez’s resignation in September, emphasized the critical nature of national security. He remarked, “When you find gold bars stuffed in a mattress, the jokes write themselves. But our national security isn’t funny, it’s often life or death.” He urged the Senate to act to uphold national security and preserve the integrity of the institution.
Responding to inquiries post-briefing, Menendez underscored his status as a U.S senator with requisite security credentials, reiterating that accusations remain unproven until validated by due process. He decried Fetterman’s resolution as a “publicity stunt” dismissing the presumption of innocence and the rule of law, reflecting broader tensions within the Senate amidst the unfolding allegations.