Over half of US Democratic senators call for Menendez's resignation
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[September 27, 2023]
By Makini Brice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Over half of all U.S. Democratic senators,
including Senator Cory Booker, on Tuesday called on Senator Bob Menendez
to resign after federal prosecutors charged him and his wife with taking
bribes from three New Jersey businessmen.
Both Booker and Menendez represent the Northeastern state of New Jersey.
Menendez, a Democrat, said on Monday that he would stay in the Senate
and fight the charges.
Mendendez's fellow Democrats in the Senate were largely silent when the
criminal charges were unveiled on Friday. But in the days since, 26
senators in his caucus have said he should step down.
Democrats narrowly control the chamber with 51 seats, including three
independents who normally vote with them, to the Republicans' 49.
"I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent
his life serving," Booker said in a statement.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has said Menendez has the right
to a fair trial, but has not said whether he should stay or go. The
White House has declined to say whether Menendez should step down.
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"While Senator Menendez deserves to have a fair legal process, given the
serious nature of these charges and how they have undermined the
public's faith, he is no longer able to serve effectively in the U.S.
Senate. I urge Senator Menendez to resign," said Senator Gary Peters,
the head of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, in a statement.
Many Democratic elected officials in Menendez's state of New Jersey,
including Governor Phil Murphy, have also called for Menendez to resign.
Democratic U.S. Representative Andy Kim has said he would challenge
Menendez for his seat.
If the senator did resign, Murphy would appoint a temporary successor,
and it would be unlikely to change the balance of power in the chamber.
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![](../images/092723PIX/news_q95.jpg)
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) delivers remarks, after he and
his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in
connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey
businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023.
REUTERS/Mike Segar/ File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/27/images/ads/current/debbiesflora_lda_081123.png)
Menendez's Senate seat will be among those decided in next year's
election. His legal troubles could complicate his party's efforts to
maintain control of the Senate, however, although New Jersey has not
elected a Republican to the seat since 1972.
Menendez, 69, a powerful voice on foreign policy who has at times
bucked his own party, has stepped down from his role as chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as required under his
party's Senate rules.
Initially appointed by New Jersey's governor to the seat, Menendez
was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and served in the House of
Representatives before that.
U.S. prosecutors said Menendez accepted gold bars and hundreds of
thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for using his power and
influence to aid the government of Egypt and interfere with law
enforcement investigations into the businessmen.
If convicted, he and his wife, 56-year-old Nadine Menendez, could
face up to 45 years in prison, though judges in these types of cases
usually impose less than the maximum sentence. Wael Hana, one of the
businessmen charged with bribing Menendez, pleaded not guilty in
federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday.
The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation
by federal prosecutors. He has never been convicted.
(Reporting by Makini Brice; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Eric
Beech and Luc Cohen in New York; Aditing by Josie Kao and
Christopher Cushing)
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