The recent indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, raising questions about the ethical behavior of the Democratic party and highlighting the danger of overreaching government power. Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie has spoken out against Menendez, applauding the Justice Department for stepping in and taking action against the corrupt politician.
During a recent interview with NBC News’s “Meet The Press,” Christie made it clear that he had no interest in running against Menendez, despite the recent scandal. However, he also took the opportunity to discuss the broader issue of corruption within the government, warning that the Justice Department’s treatment of Menendez does not excuse past wrongdoings.
“I’m glad that the Justice Department acted, and they acted on some very horrific facts,” he said. “But we need to keep our eyes open and remember that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Democratic party has been involved in corrupt practices for years, and we need to hold them accountable for their actions.”
As a former U.S. attorney in New Jersey, Christie knows firsthand the insidious nature of political corruption. He cited Menendez’s outrageous behavior as an example of the ethical lapses that have become all too common in Washington.
“There is no way that any public official has any legal, or plausible, or ethical explanation for having $500,000 in cash stuffed in jackets and envelopes throughout their home, gold bars that have the fingerprints, DNA of someone who you were attempting to fix the system for,” he said. “What we are seeing here is a rampant abuse of power, and we need to put a stop to it.”
Christie acknowledged that not all government officials are corrupt, but he made it clear that there are plenty of bad actors out there who need to be exposed. He criticized U.S. Attorney David Weiss for offering Hunter Biden a “sweetheart deal,” saying that such behavior undermines the integrity of the legal system.
“These kinds of deals only reinforce the notion that the government is rigged in favor of the powerful and privileged,” he said. “We need to hold these people accountable and let them know that justice will be served.”
Ultimately, Christie made it clear that he has no interest in being part of a corrupt political system. He stated that he had a chance to appoint himself to the United States Senate in 2013 but declined the offer, choosing instead to focus on his own career and values.
“I have no interest in being in the United States Senate,” he said. “I have throughout my entire career. If I didn’t appoint myself to the United States Senate, the easiest way to get there, I sure as heck am not going to run for it. We need people in government who are committed to doing what’s right, not just what’s expedient.”
