JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Diya TV) — In the escalating contest for New Jersey’s 8th congressional district, the Ravi Bhalla for Congress campaign has launched a blistering attack on Representative Rob Menendez Jr., accusing him of passively accepting a $250,000 super PAC contribution from Sam Bankman-Fried, who recently received a 25-year prison sentence for defrauding customers. Bhalla’s campaign contends that Menendez Jr. should distance himself from special interests and refuse corporate PAC contributions to maintain political integrity.
Rob Horowitz, spokesperson for Ravi Bhalla for Congress, lambasted Menendez Jr. for allegedly benefiting from Bankman-Fried’s largesse, suggesting that the sizable donation was aimed at influencing the actions of his father, Senator Bob Menendez, a prominent figure on the US Senate Banking Committee. The timing of the contribution, just as the committee was delving into cryptocurrency regulations, raises suspicions of attempts to sway legislative outcomes in favor of vested interests.
Horowitz underscored Menendez Jr.’s reliance on special interest funding, citing data revealing significant contributions from PACs and lobbyists to his campaign coffers. He urged Menendez Jr. to break free from such entanglements by aligning with Bhalla’s stance of rejecting corporate PAC contributions, thereby fostering a more transparent and accountable political landscape.
In response to Bhalla’s allegations, Menendez Jr. dismissed them as desperate tactics and redirected scrutiny towards Bhalla’s legal history. He highlighted Bhalla’s representation of an individual involved in a Ponzi scheme, suggesting a moral inconsistency in Bhalla’s character.
With the Democratic primary scheduled for June 4th, the intensity of the campaign has surged, with both Bhalla and Menendez Jr. engaging in robust exchanges. The dynamics of the race suggest that the coming months will witness a fierce battle for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 8th congressional district, with the addition of newcomer Kyle Jasey adding further intrigue to the electoral landscape.
