Calls among politicians grow for Sen. Bob Menendez to resign following bribery conviction
New Jersey’s senior senator was convicted on Tuesday of taking bribes in cash and gold and acting as Egypt’s foreign agent.
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There are increasing numbers of politicians calling for Sen. Bob Menendez to resign following his federal corruption conviction.
New Jersey’s senior senator was convicted on Tuesday of taking bribes in cash and gold and acting as Egypt’s foreign agent.
Multiple politicians say that The Democrat has lost the trust of the public and betrayed his oath of office.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, “In light of this guilty verdict, Sen. Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.”
Menendez appears to still be running for the U.S. Senate as an independent after designing not to run as a Democrat.
MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez convicted of all charges, including accepting bribes paid in cash, gold and a car
Rep. Andy Kim, who won the Democratic nomination for Menendez’s seat. He is also calling on the senator to resign.
"This is a sad and somber day for New Jersey and our country. Our public servants should work for the people, and today we saw the people judge Sen. Menendez as guilty and unfit to serve,” Kim stated.
Curtis Bashaw, the Republican nominee for Senate also weighed in on the conviction.
"This is a sad day for New Jersey, but one that feels all too familiar. New Jersey families deserve better than the continued corruption and made-for-TV political scandals, courtesy of Bob Menendez and the Democratic machine,” Bashaw wrote.
Sen. Cory Booker, Menendez’s partner in the Senate and at one time close friend, said that the senator was afforded due process and a jury of his peers said Menendez broke the law. Booker called this “a dark, painful day for the people of New Jersey.”
“I call on Sen. Menendez to resign. I originally did so last fall because of the severity of the allegations against him and how they shook the public’s trust,” Booker stated.
Gov. Phil Murphy stated that the senator should resign and that if he refused, then the U.S. Senate should vote to expel him.
“In the event of a vacancy, I will exercise my duty to make a temporary appointment to ensure the people of New Jersey have the representation they deserve,” Murphy wrote.
The 70-year-old senator has denied any wrongdoing.
“I have never violated my public oath. I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent,” Menendez said after the conviction.
Menendez is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 29 and faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term.
