2018 NJ Senate race: on Principles & Values

Robert Menendez: Severely admonished by Senate for political favors

Robert Hugin (R): Hugin's company spent $2.8 million lobbying to block cheaper generic alternatives.

Robert Menendez (D): Menendez was charged for allegedly doing political favors for a friend while accepting six-figure campaign contributions & undisclosed gifts like luxury hotel stays. Prosecutor dropped charges after jury hung 10-2 for acquittal & judge said the case didn't hold up. Senate committee then "severely admonished" him.

Robert Menendez: Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts

Menendez was indicted in April 2015 on federal corruption charges. After his first trial ended in a mistrial, a judge acquitted him of several charges and prosecutors declined to retry him on the rest.

The Senate Ethics Committee then "severely admonished" him in April for accepting gifts from a friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, while intervening with federal agencies on his behalf.

A pollster says, "New Jersey voters are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over Menendez."

"The more New Jerseyans hear about disgraced Senator Bob Menendez's corruption, the less they believe he should remain in the United States Senate," said a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.