Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has reportedly told allies he will resign from Congress after being found guilty on all charges in his federal corruption trial.
NBC News reports Said The New Jersey Democrat has indicated he will step down soon after having previously shown defiance and refused to accept calls from dozens of Senate Democrats to step down.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have called on the New Jersey Democrat to resign.
“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 statement after Menendez was found guilty of all 16 federal charges.
NBC News reported:
The senator was convicted on 16 federal charges Tuesday for using the power of his office to enrich three New Jersey businessmen and benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar. In return, prosecutors said the couple received large amounts of bribes, including “cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, compensation for work with little or no attendance, luxury cars and other items of value.”
If Menendez resigns, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (Democrat) will appoint a senator to serve the full term.
Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Republican Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw are running to replace Menendez.
A poll conducted by the Republican super PAC United 2024 shows former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden in New Jersey, but the lead is within the poll’s margin of error.
Kim, a three-term congressman representing southern New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, led Bashaw 35% to 33%. Menendez, who was in the midst of a federal corruption trial at the time the poll was conducted, had 6% approval.
Excluding Menendez, Kim leads Bashaw, 41% to 39%.
Matt Mowers, a senior strategist at United 2024, said the survey shows that “voters are unhappy with the Biden-Harris administration and, as a result, are ready to punish lower-ranking Democrats who uniformly support the administration.”
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter. Sean Moran 3.
