Corrupt Democratic Senator is Skewered in Hilarious Political Ad

The federally-indicted Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, was the subject of a brutal political ad demanding his resignation or expulsion.

The satirical advertisement, produced and paid for by the Hold Them Accountable PAC, splices news clips surrounding the Menendez scandal with trailer footage from What About Bob?, the 1991 comedy starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss.

For context, the powerful politician and his wife were indicted by the Justice Department in September for corruption. Initially, charges included conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

In that indictment, prosecutors alleged that Menendez and his wife received bribes, including in the form of “cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and other items of value." Investigators had discovered $480,000 in cash and more than $100,000 in gold bars at Menendez’s home, meticulously hidden in places—including in the lining of Menendez’s clothes.

Weeks later, a superseding indictment was filed by the Justice Department in which Menendez and his wife were accused of receiving bribes from a foreign government—Egypt—and conspiring to act as a foreign agent.

At least 31 Senate Democrats have called on Menendez to resign. Menendez has refused, but has stepped down from his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Others have suggested Menendez should be expelled from the Senate, which would require a two-thirds supermajority.

In the event Menendez resigns or is expelled, his vacancy would be filled by Phil Murphy, the Democratic Governor of New Jersey.

Featured photo: Mark C. Olsen