When you are on trial because you are accused of corruption through your job, it might not be a good idea to use said job as an excuse to not show up to your trial.

Senator Robert Menendez, whose impending trial the media is assiduously ignoring, aside from a few sources…

… had the nerve to request that the trial be rearranged around his Senate schedule.

Dem NJ Sen Menendez asks judge to change trial schedule so he can be in DC for key votes. Trial begins in Sept. Could run 2 months

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) August 25, 2017

Let’s just say that prosecutors didn’t take this well, considering their filing this morning.

Government throws a beating on Menendez's request to alter the trial schedule around Senate votes. pic.twitter.com/EECKXlw5YK

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 25, 2017

Here's the whole thing. It's good.https://t.co/bGCHmpLddE

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 25, 2017

This is going to leave a mark.

After being indicted twice for depriving the people who elected him of their right to his honest services, defendant Robert Menendez now demands that this Court disrupt his criminal trial so that he can perform his duties as a United States Senator. Defendant Menendez was indicted in 2015 and 2016 for bribery, conspiracy, honest services fraud, false statements, and violating the Travel Act. Those indictments allege a seven-year bribery conspiracy in which he traded the power of his public office for a lavish lifestyle that included private jet rides and vacations in Paris and the Caribbean. Defendant Menendez concealed all of the reportable gifts he received on his financial disclosure forms, and he lied to the media and the public about them after he was caught. These gifts, the concealment, and defendant Menendez’s lies will be presented in full at trial.

A bedrock principle of our criminal justice system is that the law does not recognize wealth or title. Many defendants try to evade their criminal trials—but only a United States Senator can try to hide behind the very office he corrupted to avoid accountability to the public for his actions. Every defendant should be treated equally, and no defendant should receive special treatment based on power or privilege. This Court should reject defendant Menendez’s effort to let politics in Washington dictate the trial schedule in Newark.

Is there a legal term for “burn”? If there isn’t, there should be.

If I were trying to rewrite this brief to use as email copy I couldn't improve on the original.

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 25, 2017

Menendez's argument is basically hey judge, can we put my bribery trial on hold so I can go do some more corrupt senatoring?

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 25, 2017

pic.twitter.com/1TuMdCJn49

— Jen DinNJ (@JenDinnj) August 25, 2017

We here at Victory Girls will keep an eye on how this trial progresses.