A superior Court judge has approved a request from teh New Jersey Attorney General‘s office to permanently bar former Senator Bob Menendez from holding public office or goverment employment in the state. This decision also paves the way for the revocation of Menendez’s state pension.
In May, Attorney General Matt Platkin formally requested that Menendez be disqualified from any position of honor, trust, or profit within New Jersey or its subdivisions. This request followed Menendez’s conviction on federal bribery charges, for which he is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence.
Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy granted the state’s motion in a brief court order, stating that a hearing was unnecessary. Menendez did not contest the motion. Should his conviction be overturned on appeal or if he receives a presidential pardon, Menendez would have the option to seek the vacating of Lougy’s order.
While it is improbable that the 71-year-old former senator would be offered a government position upon his release from prison, the ruling also initiates a review by the Public Employees’ Retirement System regarding his state pension. menendez currently receives $1,066 monthly from his service in state and local government during the 1980s and 1990s.
Menendez’s federal pension is a separate issue.Federal law prohibits members of Congress convicted of corruption-related offenses from receiving their congressional pensions. However, a loophole in the law at the time of Menendez’s conviction allowed him to continue receiving his pension until the appeals process concluded. This loophole has since been closed, but only for convictions issued this year, meaning Menendez is likely still receiving his federal pension.
What are your thoughts on this development? Share your opinions in the comments below, and subscribe to World Today news for more updates.
