Convicted felon and former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez fought back tears while describing his legacy as one of “breaking down barriers,” denying that it entailed breaking laws as well. Despite his 16-count conviction last month for trading the power of his office for lucrative bribes, an emotional Menendez claimed he will leave behind a “good legacy.
” “My legacy is one of breaking down barriers,” Menendez told Spanish-American language broadcaster Noticias Univision, per a translation. “A legacy is planting seeds to create a tree where you won’t sit under it. That’s a legacy.
And in that sense, we have sown and planted so many seeds, which I know is a good legacy.” Last week, Menendez (D-NJ) formally tendered his resignation from the Senate — seemingly timed so he could land one last paycheck from the taxpayers — and filed an appeal on his conviction. Speaking in Spanish, Menendez refused to give even the slightest hint of remorse, emphatic that he was the victim as he stares down the specter of up to 222 years behind bars with sentencing slated for Oct.
29. To those still backing him, Menendez urged them to wait for his appeal to play out, something he stressed he would take all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. “You’re going to see that there was an injustice and a legal wrong,” he said in an emotional, defiant tone.
“When you are innocent, you find it difficult. And when you know as I know that many times my voice was the only voic.