Despite always maintaining his innocence, Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey) was found guilty on Tuesday by a jury in federal court in New York on 16 counts, including bribery, extortion, acting as a foreign agent, obstruction of justice and several counts of conspiracy.
Since his indictment, Menendez has rejected calls to give up his Senate seat, including those from fellow Democratic Senator John Fetterman (PA).
BREAKING NEWS: Verdict in the trial against Senator Bob Menendez
John Fetterman calls for Bob Menendez’s resignation
By the Senate on charges of foreign agents
But on Wednesday, Menendez He reportedly told allies that would actually recede.
WASHINGTON – Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has told allies that he will resign from Congress following his conviction. Allegations of corruption at the federal level, Two people with direct knowledge of the talks told NBC News.
Menendez, who had been defiant for months in the face of Calls by dozens of Senate Democrats to resign, seems to have finally given in after the guilty verdict and increasing threats to deport him if he refused. He is calling his allies to inform them of his intention to resign, these sources said. That would end a three-decade career in Congress that included influential committee chairmanship, drafting of major legislation and two criminal trials on corruption charges.
Those urging him to resign included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Dick Durbin, Senate Majority WhipD-Ill.; and Menendez’s friend and Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.
“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do the right thing for his constituents, the Senate and our country and resign,” Schumer said in a statement after Menendez’s latest corruption trial ended in guilty verdicts.
But after NBC published this report, Repelled on it.
“I can tell you that I have neither resigned nor spoken to any so-called allies… It seems to me that they are trying to force me to make a statement. Anyone who knows me knows that this is the worst way to get anywhere with me.”
Once Menendez resigns — if he resigns — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) will appoint his successor to finish his term (which ends in 2025). Currently, Menendez is running for re-election as an independent, while Andy Kim is challenging him as a Democrat and Curtis Bashaw is running as the Republican candidate. Will he resign? I guess we’ll see…
