Bipartisan members in the House are pushing legislation to strengthen federal bribery laws in the wake of the legal troubles facing Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a series of federal charges accusing them of pocketing bribes of cash and gold bars in exchange for wielding his political influence to secretly advance Egyptian interests and do favors for New Jersey businessmen.
The Gifts for Officials, Legislators and Delegates (GOLD) Standard Act — playing off the allegation the Menendezes received gold bars as part of the bribes — is sponsored by Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., and backed by Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Andy Kim, D-N.J.; and Eric Sorensen, D-Ill.
It would expand the definition of "official act" by a public official considered under the federal bribery statute to include a recommendation, investigation, or advice.
"Public officials should be held to the highest ethical and legal standards — not be immune from them," Craig said Friday in a news release. "Sen. Menendez's case is an urgently needed reminder of the risks weak bribery laws pose to our democracy and national security. My bipartisan bill changes that to ensure public officials who abuse their office can be held accountable."
Craig's office said the U.S. Supreme Court's narrow definition of an "official act" in McDonnell v. United States in 2016 "provided concerning legal cover for public officials accused of bribery, making the prosecution of public officials under the federal bribery statute extremely difficult in the years since."
The court's 8-0 ruling vacated the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, once a rising star in the Republican Party, on multiple charges of performing "official acts" as governor in return for money, loans, expensive gifts, and outings.
"Now more than ever, we need to restore trust in our government institutions, especially in light of recent scandals involving members facing superseding indictments and multiple counts of conspiracy and obstruction on both sides of the aisle," Mace's office said in the news release. "By cosponsoring this bill, we aim to close loopholes and strengthen the definition of 'official act,' ensuring that public officials, no matter who, are held accountable for their actions and restoring faith in the integrity of our democracy."
Menendez resigned as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has yet to state publicly whether he will run for reelection this year. A report last week said he will not, and another Thursday said he would run as an independent.
Kim, who has called on Menendez to resign from the Senate, is among the candidates to challenge for the Democrat nomination in June's primary.
"In New Jersey, we've seen scandal after scandal in pay-to-play schemes," Kim said in the news release. "Now, more than ever, we need leaders who will step up and codify anti-bribery legislation into law. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor this bill, to try and take another step toward regaining people's trust in their representatives."
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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