Part 3/6:
In what could be described as a desperate attempt to elicit sympathy and evade accountability, Menendez has resorted to identity politics. He initially claimed that he was being unfairly targeted because he is a Latino, trying to frame his legal troubles as part of a broader narrative of discrimination and persecution against minorities in positions of power. His attempts to cultivate sympathy failed, leading him to a new strategy: seeking a pardon from former President Donald Trump. This pivot, which comes after he previously voted to impeach Trump, underscores a significant shift in rhetoric where he now aligns himself with Trump's narrative that the legal system is politically weaponized against individuals like him.