While all three of the major broadcast networks covered the indictment of Democratic Senator Robert Menendez (N.J.) on Wednesday night, the CBS Evening News chose to largely downplay the news by spending just 22 seconds on the story and hailed Menendez as someone “who often seems to relish a fight.”
Additionally, the “big three” of ABC, CBS, and NBC all made sure to mention that Menendez is a Democrat, but stopped there and declined to label him a liberal or progressive.
After the program’s latest segment bashing religious freedom laws, anchor Scott Pelley read the following brief before moving onto other stories:
Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on bribery charges. The New Jersey Democrat is accused of taking gifts and trips on a private jet from Florida eye doctor Solomon Melgen, in exchange for changes in Medicare that would make millions for the doctor. Menendez, who often seems to relish a fight, says he's innocent.
In a reversal from when initial reports of charges surfaced on March 6, ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News devoted full segments to the story and minced no words in outlining the charges that the senior Senator from New Jersey is facing.
ABC News correspondent David Wright emphasized in his short segment that Menendez faces “14 counts of corruption and bribery charges” and then also summarized the allegations prosecutors are making:
Prosecutors say he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds and political perks from a Florida opthamologist in exchange for political favors. Among the alleged perks, Caribbean vacations, deluxe hotel rooms in Paris and trips aboard a private plane. Menendez is the first U.S. senator in more than 30 years to face a bribery charge.
Over on NBC Nightly News, interim anchor Lester Holt informed viewers that “one of the most influential Democrats in Washington, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, has been indicted, facing federal corruption charges” and stands “accused of doing political favors in exchange for contributions and other gifts.”
Justice correspondent Pete Williams reported that “[p]rosecutors accuse Robert Menendez of using his U.S. Senate office to help a Florida eye doctor and big political donor Salomon Melgen,” who “was also charged today” after being under investigation for Medicare billing.
Williams went on to include further details about the indictment:
The indictment says Menendez urged the government to adopt reimbursement policies that would benefit Melgen to honor a Dominican port security contract with a company in which Melgen was an investor and to get Visas for Melgen’s girlfriends. In return, prosecutors say, Dr. Melgen gave thousands in campaign contribution to Menendez and treated the Senator to luxury Dominican vacations and private jet flights.
The brief that aired on the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley on April 1 can be found below.
CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
April 1, 2015
6:33 p.m. EasternSCOTT PELLEY: Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on bribery charges. The New Jersey Democrat is accused of taking gifts and trips on a private jet from Florida eye doctor Solomon Melgen, in exchange for changes in Medicare that would make millions for the doctor. Menendez, who often seems to relish a fight, says he's innocent.
The relevant portions of the transcript from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on April 1 are transcribed below.
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
April 1, 2015
6:42 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Indicted]
DAVID MUIR: And now to politics and the breaking story out of New Jersey tonight. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez indicted on federal corruption charges, bribery, accused of trading political influence for private jets, Caribbean vacations, luxury hotels in Europe. He could face years behind bars and ABC’s David Wright is in New Jersey for us. David?
DAVID WRIGHT: Good evening, David. Moments from now, Senator Bob Menendez is expected to be here to respond to the indictment.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Menendez Indicted; Charges Include Bribery and Corruption]
14 counts of corruption and bribery charges. Prosecutors say he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds and political perks from a Florida opthamologist in exchange for political favors. Among the alleged perks, Caribbean vacations, deluxe hotel rooms in Paris and trips aboard a private plane. Menendez is the first U.S. senator in more than 30 years to face a bribery charge. He denies any wrongdoing and vows to fight these charges with all he has.
A partial transcript from the segment on April 1's NBC Nightly News is provided below.
NBC Nightly News
April 1, 2015
7:13 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Senator Charged]
LESTER HOLT: Tonight, one of the most influential Democrats in Washington, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, has been indicted, facing federal corruption charges. He’s accused of doing political favors in exchange for contributions and other gifts. Our Justice correspondent Pete Williams has late details.
PETE WILLIAMS: Prosecutors accuse Robert Menendez of using his U.S. Senate office to help a Florida eye doctor and big political donor Salomon Melgen. Under investigation of his Medicare billing, he was also charged today. The indictment says Menendez urged the government to adopt reimbursement policies that would benefit Melgen to honor a Dominican port security contract with a company in which Melgen was an investor and to get Visas for Melgen’s girlfriends. In return, prosecutors say, Dr. Melgen gave thousands in campaign contribution to Menendez and treated the Senator to luxury Dominican vacations and private jet flights....
