| Over twenty years ago young Bob Menendez helped fight political corruption in Hudson County and testified against political boss William Musto. But the Kean campaign has shamelessly denied the truth of these events. After all, the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry worked. But this time, the New York Times notes that there are actual facts:
To a depth unusual for events that are decades old, the Kean campaign's accusations can be measured against a robust historical record — including F.B.I. tapes and volumes of trial testimony — of a roiling human and legal drama between 1978 and 1982 in Union City.
How do the four prosescutors describe Menendez's role: "an act of courage", "he was very gutsy and courageous", and "There certainly was never any deal, or any need for a deal. Menendez just testified truthfully."
In the trial itself, Menendez not only had no deal, but the contractor twice testified that Menendez was not bribed.
But then the Kean people say Menendez was only brave because he was forced to testify. Not so according to the historical record says the NY Times:
However, Mr. Menendez's role, while not palpably dramatic, was pivotal in undermining the scheme and involved far more than responding to a subpoena. The contractor, Mr. Orlandini, testified that by late 1978 and early 1979, Mr. Menendez was making trouble over the false paperwork Mr. Orlandini used to generate cash for bribes.
"Bobby Menendez was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together," Mr. Orlandini testified, forcing him to go behind Mr. Menendez's back to keep the cash flowing.
Even before the trial, Menendez opposed Musto's candidates.
This time, neither Menendez nor the independent press will stand for shameless Republican lies. Kean Jr. should apologize to the man he is trying to smear.
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