Fetterman moves to ban Menendez from classified briefings

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) introduced a resolution Thursday that would revoke indicted Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) access to classified briefings and information. 

Fetterman, who has already called on his embattled Senate colleague to resign, did not specifically name Menendez in his resolution, but referenced some of the crimes the New Jersey Democrat has been charged with and argued that any members facing such accusations should be barred from certain activities in the upper chamber. 

The resolution would prohibit senators charged with acting as a foreign agent, compromising US national security and mishandling classified information from receiving classified information or briefings, serving on committees, submitting spending requests for appropriation bills, or using official funds for international travel. 

Menendez is accused of conspiring with his wife and an Egypt-born businessman to secretly work on the Egyptian government’s behalf between 2018 and 2022.

The former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion. 

He has pleaded not guilty and vehemently denies the allegations. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters last month that Menendez would not be attending a classified briefing on Israel.

The New Jersey Democrat insisted that it was his “own decision not to attend.”

However, Menendez attended a classified briefing on Ukraine earlier this week with no restrictions.

“The bottom line is I am a United States senator, I have my security credentials, and an accusation is just that, it’s not proof of anything,” he told reporters after the Wednesday meeting. 

Menedez dismissed Fetterman’s resolution as a “publicity stunt” on Thursday

“Instead of focusing on generating clickbait, he should channel his efforts toward legislating and delivering results for the people of Pennsylvania,” Menendez told NBC News. 

FBI agents who raided Menendez’s Englewood Cliffs home in June 2022 found $566,000 of cash stuffed inside windbreaker jackets emblazoned with the senator’s name, more than $150,000 worth of gold bars and a 2019 Mercedes C-Class that he and his wife allegedly bought with a down payment received as a bribe.

If convicted on all charges, the Democratic senator faces as much as 50 years in prison.

Menendez has rebuffed calls to resign or not seek re-election next year.