New Jersey Moves to Ban Bob Menendez from Office and Strip His State Pension After Corruption Conviction

New Jersey officials are going all in to make sure Bob Menendez never gets another shot at public office in their state. Attorney General Matt Platkin announced Monday that his office is seeking a court order to officially ban the former senator from ever holding office again in New Jersey. Menendez, who was sentenced in January to 11 years for bribery, extortion, obstruction, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Egypt, is accused of using his senatorial power for personal gain and betraying public trust.

Platkin made it clear: "Corruption has consequences." He wants the court to confirm Menendez is "forever disqualified" from any public office or government job, whether it’s as mayor, state senator, or even dog catcher. The move follows a precedent set when former Paterson Mayor Joey Torres was barred from office after a corruption conviction too.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers aren’t letting Menendez’s wallet off the hook. State Assemblymember Aura Dunn is leading the charge to strip Menendez of his $1,066-per-month taxpayer-funded pension, which he’s been raking in for over 30 years. Dunn has introduced a bill to stop convicted officials like Menendez from collecting pension benefits, calling it absurd that a court order is needed to keep someone nicknamed 'Gold Bar Bob' from public service in what she dubs the "Soprano State." If your state nickname sounds like a mob show, maybe it’s time for some serious reform.

Dunn’s proposed law would require pension trustees to yank benefits from anyone convicted of a crime or official misconduct. She’s not mincing words: "If the law doesn’t keep up with common sense, I’ll change it."

Menendez, for his part, continues to claim innocence and even threw a nod to Donald Trump after his sentencing, echoing the former president’s complaints about a "political" and "corrupted" justice system. Not to be outdone, Menendez’s wife, Nadine, was also convicted on similar bribery charges—those infamous gold bars again!—and is awaiting sentencing.