Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called on Bob Menendez to resign after a jury convicted him on all 16 charges in a federal bribery case.
Prosecutors said Menendez used his powerful position as a senator to provide favors to Egypt and other clients. The charges include bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Schumer told him Resign It came minutes after the guilty verdict was handed down on Tuesday.
“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must do the right thing for his constituents, the Senate and our country and resign,” Schumer said in a social media post.
Other Democrats joined in speaking out against the New Jersey senator.
“I have called on Senator Menendez to resign after the mountain of incriminating evidence against him has been made public. He has been convicted of every crime and now has absolutely no excuses. He must resign or be ousted.” Said Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina.
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey also called on him to resign in a lengthy speech. statement.
“This is a dark and painful day for the people of New Jersey. We need the people’s trust to represent them in Congress. When elected officials betray that trust, they betray their oath to serve the people who elected us,” Booker wrote.
“I call for Senator Menendez to resign. I offered to resign last fall because of the seriousness of the allegations against him and the way they have undermined the public trust,” the governor added. “Today’s guilty conviction makes it even more important that Senator Menendez resign and that the Governor appoint his successor.”
Democratic Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy Said If Menendez refuses to resign, the Senate should expel him.
Many Democrats called for Menendez to resign after he was indicted, with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania being particularly harsh in his criticism of his colleague.
“This is not politics as usual. This is politics for profit,” said Damien Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Some of the charges carry prison sentences of up to 20 years, and if Menendez does not resign from his senate seat, he could be expelled with a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
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