CNN’s Manu Raju Confronts Indicted Menendez Over Getting Classified Briefings: ‘You’re Being Accused Of Aiding A Foreign Government’

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was indicted in September on bribery charges and is facing additional charges of acting as a foreign agent to Egypt. So how was it that he was attending a classified briefing on Ukraine, especially when he wasn’t in similar briefings on Israel?

CNN’s Manu Raju wanted the answer to this question, and he ran into Menendez as he was heading to the briefing. Appearing on Inside Politics with Dana Bash, Raju brought the video of the confrontation with Menendez, who has a testy response:

RAJU: You didn’t, weren’t able to go to the last classified briefing because [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)] didn’t let you. Why are you going to this classified briefing?

MENENDEZ: First of all, you’re wrong about that. He didn’t say, “you can’t go” and he didn’t not let me. So that’s just the wrong–

RAJU: Well why, why did you go to this classified briefing?

MENENDEZ: Because getting an update on Ukraine is something that’s worthy as we consider the supplemental.

RAJU: But you’re being accused of aiding a foreign government. Why is that appropriate for you to go into a classified briefing?

MENENDEZ: You know, Manu, I know you gotta make news. Bottom line is, I’m a United States Senator. I have my security credentials. And an accusation is just that. It’s not proof of anything.

Menendez has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him and has refused calls for his resignation. Schumer did not reveal the machinations of Menendez’s absence from the classified briefings on Israel last month, whether he was disinvited by Schumer or someone else or if Menendez agreed not to attend. One consequence of the indictments was Menendez stepping down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but he still serves as a member.

Watch the video above via CNN.