Posted on 07/17/2024 6:56:52 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
He's steadfastly maintained his innocence, but Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was convicted by a federal jury in New York on Tuesday on 16 charges, including bribery, extortion, acting as a foreign agent, obstruction of justice, and several counts of conspiracy.
Since his indictment, Menendez has batted away calls for him to resign his Senate seat, including by fellow Democratic Senator John Fetterman (PA).
However, on Wednesday, Menendez reportedly told allies that would, indeed, resign.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has told allies that he will resign from Congress after being convicted on federal corruption charges, two people directly familiar with those conversations tell NBC News.
Menendez, who had been defiant for months in the face of calls from dozens of Senate Democrats to resign, appears to have finally relented after the guilty verdict and growing threats to expel him if he refused. He is calling allies to notify them of his intention to resign, these sources said, which would end a three-decade career in Congress that included a powerful committee chairmanship, writing major legislation and two criminal trials over allegations of corruption.
Among those who urged him to resign were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; and Menendez's friend and fellow New Jersey Democratic senator, Cory Booker.
“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said in a statement after Menendez's latest corruption trial ended in guilty verdicts.
However, after NBC published that report, Menendez pushed back on it.
"I can tell you that I have not resigned nor have I spoken to any so called allies ... Seems to me that there is an effort to try to force me into a statement. Anyone who knows me knows that's the worst way to achieve a goal with me."
Once Menendez steps down — if he steps down — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) will appoint his replacement to finish out his term (which ends in 2025). Currently, Menendez is running for reelection as an Independent, while Andy Kim is challenging him as the Democrat, and Curtis Bashaw is running as the Republican candidate. Will he bow out? I guess we'll see...
In before Powers Boothe.
How does this affect the senate race? Does the Republican have a shot if Menendez is pulling some votes as an Independent?
How many gold bars did they have to give him to resign?
Now the waiting game. Who’s the radical leftist that the Governor is going to appoint?
Looks like you will die in prison, I will pray that you change your mind of needing a Savior.
Rock me gently-smooth sailing. No need to wait.
Sure. When? They often say at the end of their term.
The Dems can replace Biden with him
His pointy nosed wife is my bet.
Democrats are warp speed to the radical and corrupt radical Left.
Whoever it is, someone that is corrupt, greedy, nasty and will do whatever they’re told to by the anonymous ‘powers that be’
Make gold your new standard.
We all know how unbiased those New York juries are . . .
That’s Murphy’s disgusting wife to a tee.
Gov. Murphy may appoint himself to fill the term or his wife.
That’s not what ‘give up the ghost’ means.
Bob Menendez is up for election this year.
https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2024/new-jersey/bashaw-vs-kim-vs-menendez
This action should help the D’s, unfortunately, not that the present R candidate for N.J. U.S. Senate is conservative enough, anyways.
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