Gov. Phil Murphy has decided on George Helmy, his former chief of staff to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Bob Menendez.

Menendez was convicted by a jury one month ago of taking bribes.

George Helmy has never held an elected office but has worked behind the scenes for Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker and former Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

In choosing Helmy, Murphy is getting someone he can trust to vote along the Democrat party line for the next three months in Washington.

Murphy stated during an announcement in Newark, “He is the model of integrity that we need to restore the public’s trust.”

In introducing Helmy, Murphy was making an obvious reference to Menendez.

Menendez recently resigned from his post following his conviction. His last day in office is Aug. 20.

In picking Helmy, Murphy passed over Rep. Andy Kim, the Democrat who is campaigning to fill the Senate seat in the upcoming November election.

Helmy currently works as an executive for RWJ Barnabas Health.

In taking on this role, Helmy said, “Although I will only serve for a few months I will do my very best to ensure that our work is about us and not I. We work for the people of New Jersey beyond that the people of the United States not ourselves."

He'll be working alongside Booker, New Jersey’s other representative in the Senate.

“There is perhaps no one else more qualified to hit the ground running and make an impact for New Jersey in this role over the next several months,” Booker said.

This choice is not without controversy. During Menendez’s trial, former state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal testified that he was approached by Helmy about a criminal prosecution involving a relative of former state Sen. Nick Sacco. At the time he was working for Murphy.

That type of interference is the same type that Menendez was convicted of.

When asked about it Murphy would only say, “No. 1, I can’t speak to the specifics. We just don’t go near the line. It’s a policy of going near the line in criminal matters of the attorney general.”

Helmy did not take any questions concerning his appointment, only adding he has no interest in seeking elected office. Helmy will stay on only until November. That’s because Murphy made it known he would appoint the winner of the election to that office in Washington D.C.