The charges ended in a mistrial, but Menendez was "severely admonished" by the Senate Ethics Committee earlier this year. Menendez faced charges related to accusations of giving political favors in exchange for gifts.
It is unclear whether the campaign helped to plan Trump's tweet as part of its strategy.Ĭoncerns about the incumbent Democrat's ethics led to a closer-than-expected Senate race in New Jersey, a blue state where the party should have benefited this year from a favorable environment. The Hugin campaign did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Trump's endorsement. Yet, throughout his campaign, Hugin spent millions of dollars of his own money on ads that not only hammered Menendez for ethics charges, but also cast the former Celgene CEO as an independent-minded candidate who would not pay heed to party when making decisions. Hugin donated six figures to Trump's cause in 2016, was the finance chairman for Trump's New Jersey campaign and served on his presidential transition team. Republicans have a 51-49 majority in the chamber, and a Hugin upset would all but assure GOP control for the next two years. New Jersey Democrats have in recent weeks cast Hugin as a Trump ally who would help the president's agenda in the Senate. In a statement responding to Trump's tweet, Menendez campaign spokesman Steven Sandberg responded simply: "Thank you." In a blue state where polling suggests concerns about a Republican Congress boosting Trump's agenda outweighs concerns about Menendez's ethics issues, the endorsement does not make much sense.
He has my complete and total Endorsement! Get out and Vote for Bob. Trump tweet: Bob Hugin, successful all of his life, would be a Great Senator from New Jersey.
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