Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, criticized his fellow Democrats in the Senate for allowing "sleazeball" Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, to continue serving in Congress.
The lawmaker's comment due to the New Jersey Democrat's many indictments arising from the alleged bribery scam that Menendez was involved in, as Fox News reported.
The accusations of bribery and obstruction of justice were brought against Menendez on Monday, and he entered a plea of not guilty in Manhattan Federal Court.
The investigation into the allegations that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, including cash, gold, and a Mercedes-Benz.
Menendez allegedly recieved the goods and funds in exchange for using Menendez's power and influence as a senator to assist the governments of Egypt and Qatar is now underway. Menendez and his wife are accused of obstructing justice.
During an interview with CNN reporter Manu Raju the previous week, Fetterman expressed his frustration with the fact that Democrats have not yet removed Menendez from the Senate.
"And it‘s been clear that my colleagues want to keep him around, and now we have his trial in less than two months, and that‘s gonna handle it," Fetterman said.
He asked Fetterman what it says "about this institution" that Menendez is allowed to continue serving as a senator. Raju asked Fetterman what it says about the institution.
"I don’t know what it says other than that they guess they‘re just okay with having a sleazeball in the Senate," Fetterman said.
John Bresnahan, a reporter for Punchbowl News, participated in a panel discussion about Fetterman's remarks regarding the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, which has come under attack for enabling Menendez to remain in the Senate and keep key committee assignments.
However, Bresnahan pointed out that Schumer and the Democratic leadership in the Senate will not be able to pull Menendez out of his position.
The nickname "sleazeball" has been used by Fetterman in the past to describe Menendez.
"I don't know why anybody would take a meeting with that sleazeball," Fetterman told reporters in January. "And he needs to go. I've been very clear about that."
Fetterman, who has advocated for Menendez's expulsion on multiple occasions, continued by saying, "We should have chucked him. I don't know why we haven't chucked him, and I sure hope eventually we do chuck him."
