N.J. Gov. Chris Christie opens new Belmar boardwalk

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie (2nd from left) has a private word with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) as they arrive to join Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty to officially reopen the newly rebuilt Belmar boardwalk to the public. At right is Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone.

(Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — In the aftermath of Sen. Robert Menendez's 14-count indictment on Wednesday, Democrats seem to be giving him a lot more breathing room than they provided Gov. Chris Christie after he became entangled in the scandal over the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge.

No one picked up up on that quicker than Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), a member of the legislative committee investigating the lane closings.

"The hypocrisy is stunning," Schepisi said Thursday. "Regardless of whether or not you ultimately believe that Sen. Menendez did or do not do anything wrong is almost beside the point. Because the very same people who have en masse stood up and said 'Don't rush to judgment'... are the very same people who, without any indictments, without any information other than a couple of salacious emails that got leaked to the press, were calling for the governor's head on a platter."

Democrats say the two cases are extraordinarily different, and that unlike the bridge scandal, Menendez's did not put public safety at risk.

Even Christie himself — once a fierce rival of Menendez's — has not criticized the senator.

"Everybody deserves the presumption of innocence and there's no reason for me or anybody else to get out ahead of themselves," he said in a statement.

But in the past, Christie has said that public officials who have been indicted should resign.

"I don't call on public officials to resign until and unless they are charged by a grand jury," Christie said in August 2012, referring to then-Assemblyman Robert Schroeder's (R-Bergen) legal problems. "If that happens, you will find that I will call for his resignation."

After Schroeder was indicted four months later for allegedly stealing $1.8 million, then-Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the governor believed he should resign.

Christie made similar statements regarding former Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo, a Republican, and Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, a Democrat, after they were indicted on corruption charges. Before now, he hasn't had the opportunity to opine on troubled federal elected officials from New Jersey, since none were indicted during his tenure as governor.

But so far, no major New Jersey elected officials — Democrat or Republican ‐ have called on Menendez to resign.

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.) was among Menendez's defenders Wednesday.

"Like all Americans, Senator Menendez is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence and the chance to defend himself. We must allow the legal process to work through the matters at hand," said U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.).

John Currie, the state Democratic chairman, said that Menendez "has told me personally that none of his actions were inappropriate or unlawful, and I truly believe him."

And U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th Dist.) said Menendez "has always maintained his innocence and I stand with him as he defends himself from these charges because he is a friend and has proven to be a fierce fighter on behalf of all New Jerseyans."

But when it came to Christie — who wasn't even close to being indicted — Democrats were less circumspect.

In February 2014, when the bridge scandal was broiling and some controversial text messages were released between Christie aides who had orchestrated lane closures in an apparent act of political retribution, Watson Coleman had strong words.

"And this really is what they're all about, transactional deals, dismissiveness, remarks that are totally, totally unacceptable in a civilized society," Watson Coleman, an assemblywoman at the time, said during an appearance on MSNBC. "And you know what? The governor needs to think about resigning, and he needs to take all his friends with him because this is sickening."

Backlash from the remarks caused Watson Coleman to step down from the legislative committee that was investigating the bridge scandal. But her staffers said the comments have to be put in context.

"A big issue for a lot of people in our state — particular people up in that area — is traffic. It takes time away from their families, not to mention the danger it creates," her chief of staff, James Gee, said. "But it wasn't just that. Her statement on MSNBC was on top of all of that, when you look at all the emails, it was disrespect for different people, ethnic jokes."

Courtney Cochran, Watson Coleman's spokeswoman, also said that while Menendez was still serving constituents, Christie was "failing all that while disrespecting the people he was elected to serve while on official business."

And in January 2014 Pascrell was "outraged that the safety of my constituents was callously jeopardized to inflict political retribution."

"It's time for the Governor to stop with the mockery and the denials and take responsibility for what his administration has done here in Fort Lee and perhaps elsewhere in New Jersey," Pascrell said at the time.

Matt Rooney, an attorney who runs the conservative New Jersey politics blog SaveJersey.com, called the Democrats' reactions "classic partisanship."

"We have a 68-page document full of absolutely salacious allegations," he said, referring to Menendez's indictment, "and they're ready to nominate him for canonization."

Menendez and Melgen arrive for Federal Court appearances 18 Gallery: Menendez and Melgen arrive for Federal Court appearances

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Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. e