Scandal-plagued Sen. Bob Menendez left open the possibility of running as an independent after the Post reported that he will not defend his seat as a Democrat this year.
Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, is facing 18 federal bribery charges and had until March 25 to collect the 1,000 signatures needed to fill out the ballot.
“Unfortunately, the charges that I am currently facing, which I am innocent of and which I will now prove, have not allowed such conversations and discussions with my political opponents, who have already become a cornerstone of my campaign,” Menendez said. They won’t allow me to do that.”be Video posted to YouTube.
“I look forward to being acquitted this summer and to running as an independent Democrat in the general election,” Menendez added.
The Post reported earlier this month that Menendez would not seek reelection as a Democrat.
If Mr. Menendez runs as an independent, he only needs 800 signatures to appear on the ballot, with a deadline of June 4. There are currently three independent senators, all of whom caucus with Democrats.
The race to replace him is already heating up among Democrats, with U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and First Lady Tammy Murphy vying for party support.
The Democratic primary for Menendez’s Senate seat is scheduled for June 4.
Mr. Mendenez has served in the Senate since 2006. He was indicted on a separate bribery charge in 2017 after a hung jury, but famously won re-election in 2018.
His trial on 18 federal counts is scheduled to begin May 6.
The senator and his wife supported businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Duives with over $150,000 in gold bars, $566,000 in cash payments, and a Mercedes-Benz. He is accused of accepting bribes including a convertible car and other lavish gifts. All of them will also be charged in this case.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Uribe bribed Mr. Menendez to induce the senator to “pressure” the New Jersey attorney general’s office to favorably resolve criminal charges against his colleague.
They also claim he is acting as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.
Menendez was chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but resigned after being indicted.
He has endured a chorus of calls for his resignation, including from Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania).
“As I’ve said, there are certain standards in the Senate, and Mr. Menendez fell far short of them. We are deeply disappointed in him,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.J. The state) dodged a question from reporters about why it was not moving to expel him.
“I know that many of you are hurt and disappointed by the accusations that I have been accused of. Believe me, I am also disappointed by the false accusations. All I ask of you is justice. All we have to do is withhold judgment until this happens,” Menendez added.
Opinion polls are sparse and support for Mr. Menendez is clearly low, given the federal charges to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Menendez’s term expires in January.
