Here’s an eye-opener: N.J. Senator Bob Menendez, possibly the most corrupt U.S. Senator, was indicted for the second time in his career yesterday. This time, he may really end up in jail. In 2018, Menendez beat a bribery charge for using his position to advance the interests of Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen. Melgen had showered Menendez with political donations, luxury vacations in his Dominican villa (you know, like Clarence Thomas has been getting from Republican billionaires) and private jet flights (you know, like Clarence Thomas has been getting from Republican billionaires). That time he got a hung jury by employing an “everybody does it” defense and the “he’s just a dear friend and he likes me” bit. This time, that won’t be enough. The indictment points out that “Over $480,000 in cash and gold bars — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the [Menendez] home.” There are photos.

Generally non-felons don’t keep a half-million dollars hidden around the house. The new indictment alleges Menendez and his wife took bribes (that’s the Senator and his love above, right after they got news of the indictment based on the expressions on their faces) in exchange for favors for the Egyptian government and an Egyptian company that ended up with a monopoly on Halal meat exports. As Senate Rules require, Menendez had to step down as Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee pending the resolution of the case.

Like any good Democrat of color, Menendez blamed racism for his indictment. “For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists. The excesses of these prosecutors is apparent. They have misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office. On top of that, not content with making false claims against me, they have attacked my wife for the longstanding friendships she had before she and I even met,” Menendez said in a defiant (that is, desperate) statement. “Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction. Even worse, they see me as an obstacle in the way of their broader political goals,” he continued, going on to call the indictment’s allegations “baseless”—you know, like Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was rigged against him are called “baseless” by Democrats. I wonder what “baseless” means today. Now me, I’d call a search uncovering a U.S. Senator hiding gold bars in his home a “base,” but maybe I haven’t kept up.

But wait—there’s more!

An email included in the indictment suggests that when Menendez staffers were told to contact Joe Biden for assistance while he was VP during the Obama administration, they went though Rosemont Seneca Partners, the firm Hunter Biden ran with Devon Archer.