New Jersey Democrat faces many years in jail following his conviction for taking bribes and appearing as an agent for Egypt’s authorities.
United States Senator Bob Menendez has introduced that he’ll resign subsequent month following his conviction on corruption charges, together with bribery and appearing as an agent for Egypt’s government.
The choice on Tuesday got here as Menendez’s fellow Democrats piled stress on him to step down or face changing into the primary politician to be expelled from the Senate since 1862.
“I will likely be resigning from my workplace as the US Senator from New Jersey, efficient on the shut of enterprise on Aug. 20, 2024,” Menendez’s letter mentioned.
“Whereas I totally intend to enchantment the jury’s verdict, all the way in which and together with to the Supreme Courtroom, I don’t want the Senate to be concerned in a prolonged course of that can detract from its necessary work,” the letter added.
Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint a substitute for Menendez, who has represented New Jersey within the Senate since 2006 and served as chairman of the influential International Relations Committee earlier than giving up that publish after being charged last year.
Menendez’s present six-year time period ends on January 3.
Murphy mentioned in an announcement he had acquired the letter however didn’t present particulars on when he would finalise a call for naming Menendez’s non permanent substitute.
Bribery schemes
Menendez, 70, was discovered responsible on July 16 by a jury in a Manhattan federal courtroom on all 16 felony counts he confronted – additionally together with obstruction of justice, wire fraud and extortion – after a nine-week trial. Two co-defendants additionally had been convicted.
The case centred on what prosecutors referred to as bribery schemes during which the senator and his spouse Nadine Menendez accepted a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in money, gold bars and automotive and mortgage funds from three businessmen. In trade, Menendez steered billions of {dollars} in US help to Egypt and tried to affect the felony prosecutions of two of the businessmen, prosecutors mentioned.
Menendez, who plans to enchantment, faces many years in jail.
US District Decide Sidney Stein has set the politician’s sentencing for October 29, per week earlier than the November 5 election.
The Senate acquired a duplicate of Menendez’s resignation letter, based on Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, who was presiding within the chamber on Tuesday.
Menendez’s resignation will briefly scale back the Democratic majority within the Senate to 50-49 till Murphy’s appointee is sworn in to complete what stays of Menendez’s time period.
Democratic US Consultant Andy Kim is working for the seat in November and is favoured to win in Democratic-leaning New Jersey.
Quite a few Democrats had referred to as for Menendez to resign, together with Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer and Cory Booker, New Jersey’s different senator. Murphy, the New Jersey governor, had urged the Senate to expel Menendez if he didn’t stop.
The trial was Menendez’s second after a 2017 trial ended when the jury couldn’t attain a unanimous verdict. Menendez was then censured by the Senate ethics committee for accepting presents from a rich longtime buddy in trade for official favours.
Menendez was first appointed to his Senate seat in 2006 after serving 13 years within the US Home of Representatives. He then gained election thrice to the Senate.
He earlier served within the New Jersey legislature and as a mayor.
For many years, he has been a forceful voice on US overseas relations, most lately advocating for extra help to Ukraine and Israel as Democratic President Joe Biden pushed Congress to allocate more cash to overseas allies embroiled in conflicts.
US Consultant Rob Menendez, the senator’s son, continues to characterize a New Jersey congressional district throughout the Hudson River from New York Metropolis, just like the district his father beforehand represented.