STATEMENT: Allegations Against Senator Menendez Put American National Security at Risk, Must be Expelled

Lambertville, NJ – Following new charges against Senator Menendez on his alleged role as a foreign agent to Egypt, former national security official Jason Blazakis released the following statement.

“The latest allegations against Senator Menendez on accepting bribes from a foreign national and acting as a foreign agent are incomprehensible and put American national security at risk. As a former national security official, I know how severe and disqualifying these charges are and that they put U.S. interests overseas in harm’s way, including former colleagues like mine at the State Department. The allegations demonstrate the highest levels of corruption and violate the trust New Jerseyans and Americans have placed in the Senator and our government. I fought against corruption at the global scale throughout my entire career and know there are few things more sacrosanct than handling sensitive information. While I trust our justice system to thoroughly handle these allegations, we cannot have politicians in power who use their privileged seat of public service for their own benefit. Senator Menendez can no longer be trusted to wield power and influence over national and international policy and must be expelled.”

About Jason Blazakis

Jason Blazakis is a Warren County native who spent his career as a national security official fighting for democracy and America’s national security against extremists. He held his first job picking peaches and strawberries on a western Jersey farm and put himself through college with the help of Pell Grants and student loans. His experience of being in both New York City and Washington, DC on 9/11 led him to a career in national security.

In 2004, Jason joined the State Department. He worked in Afghanistan, where he headed the U.S. Embassy’s narcotics affairs section that fought the Taliban’s heroin operations. He spent a decade with the State Department, primarily working in counterterrorism.

Jason grew up in Harmony Township and attended Belvidere High School. His dad worked at the New Jersey Army National Guard throughout Jason’s childhood, instilling the values of hard work and public service in him.

After college, Jason attended graduate school while working as an aide in Congress, helping draft bills like the Holocaust Awareness Act.

Currently, Jason is a Professor of Practice, and teaches the next generation of policymakers to counter violent extremism and mis- and disinformation. Notably, he was recently sanctioned by Vladimir Putin for speaking out against the illegal war against Ukraine.

Throughout his career, Jason has never forgotten his days picking fruit on the farm. He knows firsthand that the dignity of hard work and the financial security it brings is just as critical to our safety as national security. He has always fought to keep Americans safe and will keep up the fight for us in Congress. He currently lives in Lambertville with his partner, Lisa.