A rising refrain of outstanding Democrats—together with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy—are calling on Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign within the wake of Friday’s surprising indictment in Manhattan federal court docket, regardless of his insistence that he’s “not going anywhere.”
The indictment is chock filled with lurid particulars, together with allegations that Menendez accepted envelopes full of 1000’s of {dollars} in money and gold bars in trade for utilizing his place on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to learn the Egyptian authorities.
“The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing. These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” Murphy stated in a press release Friday. “The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation.”
It is the senator’s second felony indictment in eight years. His earlier corruption fees filed in 2015 had been dismissed after a jury couldn’t attain a verdict in 2017.
Due to Senate bylaws, Menendez was pressured to step down from management since he was charged with a felony however has actively rejected requires his resignation.
“For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave,” the 69-year-old stated in a press release. “Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources … It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere.”
In addition to Murphy, 5 Democratic representatives have referred to as for the senator’s resignation as of Saturday morning, together with three—Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, and Donald Norcross—extensively anticipated to run for Menendez’s Senate seat in 2024. New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein famous Saturday morning that Norcross’s name for resignation is very indicative of the temper amongst Democrats, as Menendez “has been close to the Norcross family for decades.”
Several state and native officers have additionally joined the refrain. Both New Jersey State Senate President Nick Scutari and State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin referred to as on Menendez to resign, with Coughlin arguing that the costs “go against everything we should believe as public servants.” “We are given the public’s trust, and once that trust is broken, we cannot continue,” he added. New Jersey Democratic Party Chair LeRoy Jones cited subsequent yr’s election as the primary purpose for Menendez to step down.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, nevertheless, declined to say whether or not his colleague ought to resign. “Bob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey,” Schumer stated in a quick assertion. “He has a right to due process and a fair trial.”
And Menendez’s fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has additionally been silent thus far concerning the indictments. As a younger politician, Booker was mentored by Menendez, whom he has referred to as “ “one of the greatest advocates for justice on the planet Earth.” Booker additionally testified at Menendez’s 2017 trial, the place he referred to as Menendez “trustworthy and honest.”