Frank Askin for the Star-Ledger:

About the best that can be said about Sen. Robert Menendez’s defense to an indictment from federal prosecutors outlining 14 counts of criminal corruption against him is that he is playing a very dangerous game with American democracy.

As a long-time supporter of New Jersey’s senior senator, I would certainly give him the benefit of the doubt if he were seriously challenging the allegations against him.

But that does not appear to be the case. Rather, by accounts in the press, he seems to be claiming that the actions he is accused of are perfectly legal. And if he is right, it is a sad day for American politics.