“The View” co-host Ana Navarro said she was “shaken” after the indictment of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who she’s known for three decades.
Friday, the Justice Department unsealed a three-count indictment against Menendez and his wife, Nadine, according to a statement from the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
According to the indictment, Menendez and his wife received cash and gold ingots from three New Jersey merchants in exchange for their assistance to the Egyptian government.
“When I saw all the evidence, I get it, I’m shaken. I’m — I’m hoping against hope that there is some sort of logical explanation,” Navarro said Monday.
“But I also know Bob Menendez. I know Bob Menendez is not going to resign. He beat this once. He’s — you know, he’s thinking I’m — you know, I can fight this.
“I’m going to fight this. He’s not — I don’t think he’s going to resign. I think he’s going to go to trial on this. This looks ugly. This looks bad. This is hard to explain. I can’t come up with — with an explanation.”
Menendez stated during a press conference on Monday that the cash in his residence came from a savings account and was concealed because the Cuban government confiscated his family’s property. He refused to resign and did not indicate whether he would run again in 2024.
“I can tell you, I have worked with him time and time again, brought many wealthy clients to him, brought many issues in front of him, never has there been any hint of impropriety, never has he hinted about a payback or anything like that,” Navarro said.
“So I’m having a very hard time reconciling the evidence I saw shown on TV with the Bob Menendez I have known for almost 30 years.”
“This is personally hard for me,” Navarro added.