In a sharp rejoinder to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez’s effort to dismiss his corruption indictment, the U.S. Department of Justice said last week the New Jersey Democrat is interpreting the U.S. Constitution’s speech or debate clause broadly to immunize criminal activity.
In a series of court filings Aug. 24, federal prosecutors criticized Menendez’s reliance on the speech or debate clause, which can broadly shield legislative activity from being scrutinized in court, and denied his accusations of perjury and grand jury abuse by the government.
