'I'm shaken': Ana Navarro visibly upset over Bob Menendez charges — but she still finds a way to defend him

"The View" co-host Ana Navarro admitted Monday that she was left "shaken" by the serious criminal charges filed against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

What is the background?

Federal prosecutors announced last Friday that Menendez and his wife were allegedly "participating in a years-long bribery scheme."

Prosecutors allege Menendez used his official position "to protect and enrich" three New Jersey businesspeople and "to benefit the Government of Egypt." Prosecutors claim Menendez accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars, a Mercedes, gold bars, and "other things of value" for their alleged services.

Menendez and his wife were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

What did Navarro say?

Reacting to the indictment, Navarro explained why the indictment is "not easy" for her to process.

"I'm having a very hard time reconciling the evidence I saw shown on TV with the Bob Menendez I have known for almost 30 years," she said.

"This is personally hard for me, but, you know, when I saw all the evidence — I'm shaken," she admitted. "I'm hoping against hope that there is some sort of logical explanation."

Navarro admitted the evidence — including photos of cash and gold bars found in his home — "looks ugly" and is "hard to explain," but she still defended him.

"I can tell you I have worked with him time and time again, brought many wealthy clients to him, brought many issues in front of him," she disclosed. "Never has there been any hint of improprieties. Never has he hinted about a payback or anything like that."

Sen. Menendez Indicted On Corruption Charges | The Viewwww.youtube.com

Navarro's co-hosts, meanwhile, condemned Menendez and called for his resignation.

Menendez, however, will not resign.

At a press conference on Monday, the Democratic senator declared his innocence — promising that he will be "totally exonerated" — and said he will keep his job as New Jersey's senior U.S. senator.

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