Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) filed campaign paperwork with the State Board of Elections on Monday as he prepares to defend his New Jersey Senate seat as an independent.
“Today I submitted far more than the number of signatures needed to run for re-election,” the New Jersey Democrat, who is on trial on federal corruption charges, said in a Facebook post formally announcing his third-party candidacy.
“The people of this great state deserve a leader in Washington with a proven track record of fighting tooth and nail to get results, and as an Independent Democrat, I intend to continue to do just that,” he added.
“Senator Menendez” Campaign 2,465 signatures submitted More than 800 signatures needed for a petition requesting ballot access have been submitted to the New Jersey Department of Elections.
“I am disappointed that I have been forced to take this path due to an overzealous prosecutor, but I will do what I have to do to uphold my oath of office to the voters,” Menendez said.
The six-term senator expressed confidence that the trial would result in an acquittal.
“Despite how I have been portrayed in the press, my innocence continues to be proven in court,” he wrote. “As I have said before, I have committed no crime, and I am more confident than ever that the people of New Jersey and the American people will find me exonerated of the crimes I have been accused of and that I will be re-elected to the Senate again.”
Menendez, 70, has dropped out of the race for the June 4 Democratic primary, which progressive Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is expected to win.
If Menendez qualifies, his support would help him close the gap with Republican candidate Kim in the three-way race, according to polls.
Among the Republican candidates vying for the nomination in Tuesday’s primary are Mendham Borough President Christine Serrano Glassner and developer Curtis Bashaw.
Menendez is currently on trial in Manhattan federal court on charges that he accepted more than $600,000 in bribes in cash and gold bars in exchange for providing favors to three wealthy New Jersey businessmen.
He was also accused of acting as a foreign agent to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar during his leadership position on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, from which he subsequently resigned.
Menendez has pleaded not guilty to the charges and maintains his innocence. His defense team has argued that his wife, co-defendant Nadine, inherited the gold bars from a Lebanese family and hid them in the marital home without his knowledge.
“I look forward to putting these accusations behind me and getting back to work for my constituents,” Menendez said Monday.
