Here are the special interests that have given the most to Robert Menendez

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez first ran for the U.S. House in 1992 and has been raising money for his campaigns ever since. He has brought in more than $50 million during that time, according to the Center for Responsive Politics , a Washington research group.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Hugin speaks to reporters Wednesday in Glen Ridge.

WASHINGTON -- After holding off for several days, Senate Republican candidate Bob Hugin supported confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh as a U.S. Supreme Court justice as lawmakers moved toward a final vote on his nomination. "Based on everything I know now, I would support Judge Kavanaugh as senator," Hugin tweeted on Friday while his Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez , D-N.J., went to the Senate floor to decry his nomination.

Congress needs to send a message to Russia on election meddling

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday promising to punish anyone attempting to meddle in U.S. elections, including with "measures that could be capable of devastating an interfering country's economy," according to an administration description. For a presidency marked by an inconsistent stance on Russia, it was yet another shift in tone.

Time to deter Russia

Registration will allow you to post comments on GreenwichTime.com and create a GreenwichTime.com Subscriber Portal account for you to manage subscriptions and email preferences. As the midterm elections approach, one thing is clear: Neither the Trump administration nor Congress has done enough to deter Russia and other hostile foreign powers from interfering in the U.S. democratic process.

Congress sends defense bill with military pay raise to Trump Source: AP

The Senate on Wednesday gave final congressional approval to a $716 billion defense policy bill that would raise military pay by 2.6 percent, the largest pay hike in nine years. The compromise bill weakens a bid to clamp down on the Chinese telecom giant ZTE and allows the president to waive sanctions against countries that have bought Russian weapons but now want to buy U.S. military equipment.

Menendez and Pompeo really go at each other over Trump meeting with Putin

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , went toe-to-toe with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he grilled him over President Donald Trump 's closed-door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. At a committee hearing Wednesday, Menendez, D-N.J., kept asking Pompeo what Trump told him about the meeting, which was held without anyone else present except for two translators.

NJ Transit gets more time to get federal funding for Portal Bridge

WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Transit has received a six-month extension as it seeks federal funding to replace the North Portal Bridge, part of the Gateway project that also includes a new tunnel under the Hudson River. The Federal Transit Administration gave NJ Transit until Jan. 31 to supply the necessary information for federal funds under the Capital Investment Grants or "New Starts" program, according to a letter obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Mayor Davis and city council sworn in Pledges and promises for second term

On Sunday, July 1, Mayor Jimmy Davis and Bayonne's five city council members took their oaths of office for new terms. The event featured remarks by NJ Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Hudson County Freeholder Kenneth Kopacz, and former City Council President Joseph Makowski.

Comedian pulls prank on Trump with fake phone call

A comedian has successfully pulled a prank on the U.S. president with a fake phone call, raising concerns that White House security had not been up to par. John Melendez, a radio show personality, said he had called Trump while the president was travelling to Washington D.C. on board the Air Force One after a rally Wednesday evening.

Mike Pence urged by Democrats to discuss Julian Assange’s asylum status during Ecuador trip

Lawmakers pressed Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday to raise concerns while in Ecuador this week about the country's decision to continue shielding WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange , a resident of its London embassy for the past six years. A group of 10 senators, all Democrats, wrote Mr. Pence urging him to discuss Mr. Assange 's asylum status during his meeting with Ecuadorian President Lenn Moreno.

Senate Democrats urge Pence to discuss Assange with Ecuador

Democrats in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday urged Vice President Mike Pence to press Ecuador's government over asylum it grants to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Sen. Robert Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and nine other Democratic senators said in a letter to Pence that they were extremely concerned over Ecuador's protection of Assange at its embassy in London.

Voters wanted a revolution. How’d they get stuck with corrupt Bob Menendez? | Will Bunch

Will Bunch has worked at the Daily News for 20-plus years and is now senior writer. Since 2005, he's written the uber-opinionated, fair-but-dangerously unbalanced opinion blog "Attytood," covering a range of topics ; it's been named best blog in the state by the Associated Press Managing Editors and best blog in the city by Philadelphia Magazine.

US Sen. Menendez, GOP hopeful focused on general election

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and his well-funded Republican foe, Bob Hugin, already are lobbing attacks at each other in anticipation of a fall showdown, but they first have to win their parties' primaries Tuesday. Menendez, who is seeking a third term, has establishment support as he faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from Lisa McCormick, a Rahway publisher.

US Democrats to Trump: Don’t spoil historic opportunity with N. Korea

US Democrats on Monday urged President Donald Trump not to squander the "historic" opportunity of a face-to-face summit with North Korea's leader, as the lawmakers opposed any easing of sanctions without complete and verifiable denuclearization. Affirming their support for Trump's scheduled June 12 meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, seven influential Democrats including Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Trump against signing a deal at any cost, and laid out conditions they want met before any agreement is struck.

Corporate raiders ruined lives as they destroyed Toys ‘R’ Us, politicians say

Following the announcement that bankrupt Toys 'R Us would close all its stores and layoff its 33,000 employees -- including 11 outlets and 1,600 people at its New Jersey headquarters -- the state's two U.S. senators and a House colleague on Friday called on the chain's owners to "support" those workers any way they can. "We write to urge you to do everything in your power to support the thousands of Toys 'R' Us workers who will soon lose their jobs as the company closes its doors," it was stated in a letter dated June 1 and signed by Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, plus U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell .