By Mark Gray
3:42pm PDT, Sep 25, 2023
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This one is gold. The senior United States senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, have been charged with corruption-related offenses over the alleged acceptance of "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in exchange for his influence, according to an indictment filed in federal court. Prosecutors allege the bribes included gold bars, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a "low-or-no-show job" and a Mercedes Benz. Three New Jersey businessmen have also been charged for their involvement in the scandal, which benefited interests in Egypt. The indictment claims authorities found more than $480,000 in cash — most of which was hidden — during a search of the Democratic senator's home last year.
After the charges made headlines, several names in entertainment sounded off on the politician — and "gold bars" even trended on X!
Keep reading to see how several stars publicly reacted to the stunning indictment news…
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"Maybe everyone thinks our institutions are corrupt because senior sitting senators are found to be bribed with '$100,00 [worth] of gold bars, luxury cars, and cash'…." —Meghan McCain
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"Didn't he know you're supposed to funnel the $ through your relatives – brother, kids, grandkids etc.?! Menendez!" —Caitlyn Jenner
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"Sounds like a recurring theme in the democrat party," Donald Trump Jr. wrote in response to a message that read, "Bob Menendez is a moron. You let your son take the money, then he filters it to you discreetly. Everyone knows this."
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"*DIRTY DEMS*" —Sean Hannity
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"I'll see you Hunter Biden and Bob Menendez and raise you Clarence Thomas and Donald Trump. Weaponized Justice Department my ass." —Billy Baldwin
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"If Sen. Menendez broke the law, let him be punished according to the law. If Hunter Biden committed a crime or crimes let him be punished according to the law. If Donald Trump committed a crime or crimes, he should be punished according to the law. No one is above the law" —Mia Farrow
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Former Illinois governor and convicted felon Rod Blagojevich speaks to the press outside of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on August 2, 2021.
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"Never took a penny, never took a gold bar! Big difference between saying "F'n Golden" in response to Obama reaching out to make a political deal, and finding Gold Bars in Sen. Menendez' house. It's the difference between prosecuting politics & prosecuting real corruption." —Rod Blagojevich
