Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called Thursday for Senate Ethics Committee investigation into Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., after his bribery and corruption trial ended in a mistrial.
“Senator Menendez was indicted on numerous federal felonies,” McConnell said in a statement. “He is one of only twelve U.S. Senators to have been indicted in our history. His trial shed light on serious accusations of violating the public’s trust as an elected official, as well as potential violations of the Senate’s Code of Conduct.”
“Because of the seriousness of these charges, I am calling on the Senate Ethics committee to immediately investigate Senator Menendez’s actions which led to his indictment,” McConnell said.
The statement came after the jury remained deadlocked after days of deliberation and nine weeks of testimony in the trial of Menendez and Salomon Melgen, his co-defendant.
“I find that you are unable to reach a verdict and that further deliberations would be futile and there is no alternative but to declare a mistrial,” said Judge William Walls on Thursday
The decision prevented a bad outcome for Menendez’s party. Senate Democrats had feared the possibility of Menendez being forced to resign with a Republican governor in charge in the state, which could have led to a Republican senator being named to fill the remainder of his term.
Menendez was charged with 12 counts of conspiracy, bribery and fraud that could carry a lengthy prison sentence.
