Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez is no longer vying for re-election as a Democrat, but his congressional colleagues aren’t done with him yet.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) has unveiled plans to introduce legislation that would restrict individuals who have been charged with certain crimes from gaining access to classified documents — a category which would cover both Menendez and former President Donald Trump.
“As a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, I have zero tolerance for any betrayal of the public trust,” Sherrill, 52, said in a statement announcing the Guarding the United States Against Reckless Disclosures (GUARD) Act
“Nobody is entitled or legally obligated to classified briefings – certainly not Trump, even if he is the Republican nominee for president,” she continued. “This legislation … [will] ensure sensitive information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.”
Specific criminal charges that would preclude access to sensitive information include: acting as a foreign agent, compromising US national security, unlawful disclosure or improper handling of classified information, unlawful retention of national defense information, and obstructing an official proceeding.
Menendez is accused by Manhattan federal prosecutors of acting as an agent of Egypt and Qatar, while Trump is charged in South Florida with unlawful retention of national defense information.
The two pols have vehemently denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all charges pending against him.
Menendez announced last week that he won’t seek re-election as a Democrat, but kept the door open to a run as an independent. His trial is set to commence on May 6.
Sherill has publicly called on Menendez to step down, but he has refused to do so — though he did give up his chairmanship of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee following the initial indictment in September.
The only federal lawmaker from New Jersey who has not insisted Menendez step aside is his own son, Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. (D-NJ).
Sherrill’s bill would apply to the president, the vice president, members of Congress, members of the military, and employees of other key agencies that receive classified information such as the US Postal Service.
Typically, the major party candidates for the presidency receive classified briefings ahead of the election, though such information-sharing is not required by law. As the presumptive Republican standard-bearer, Trump is expected to start receiving such briefings later this year.
Meanwhile, Menendez has attended numerous classified briefings since the indictment was levied against him last year, over the objections of Democrats led by Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)
The Post contacted representatives for both Menendez and Trump for comment.
