New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy plans to appoint his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to the Senate as an interim replacement for convicted Sen. Bob Menendez, according to multiple reports.
Helmy, a 44-year-old executive at RWJBarnabas Health, could be announced as Murphy’s pick as soon as Friday. New Jersey Globe and POLITICO It was reported on Wednesday.
Menendez is set to step down from the Senate on Aug. 20, meaning his term as a senator will be short, as Garden State voters have 11 weeks to choose between Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Republican hotelier Curtis Bashaw to serve a full six-year term.
Helmy served as Murphy’s chief of staff from 2019 until last October. He previously served as state director and deputy chief of staff for New Jersey for Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and as an aide to the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
Murphy’s office did not respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
The Post reported last week that he was seriously considering naming Helmy, a Jersey City native, as interim manager.
Menendez was convicted last month of 16 felony counts of using his power and influence to benefit Egypt, Qatar and three associates in exchange for cash, gold bars and other gifts.
Hermie’s name emerged during the trial Former state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal testified that he was subjected to inappropriate questioning by Murphy’s aides in connection with a criminal case then underway.
A week after being convicted by a federal jury, Menendez announced he would appeal the verdict and step down from office, effective August 20.
The three-term Democrat faces up to decades in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29th.
Menendez announced in March that he would not seek reelection as a Democrat following a corruption scandal, but later ran as an independent for the Senate seat.
Kim, who won the Democratic nomination in June, is the overwhelming favorite to win New Jersey’s Senate election in November.
