Senator Bob Menendez to Resign After Bribery Conviction
Senator Bob Menendez will resign from the US Senate following his conviction for accepting bribes, including gold bars, to assist foreign governments.
The New Jersey Democrat had been under pressure to step down, including from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. His resignation comes after the Senate’s ethics committee started reviewing his expulsion.
Menendez, who was found guilty of 16 bribery charges related to helping Qatar and Egypt, faces a long prison sentence when he is sentenced on October 29.
During the trial, it was revealed that FBI agents found over $480,000 in cash and gold bars worth more than $100,000 at his home.
The 70-year-old senator, who insists he is innocent, said in his resignation letter to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy that he is proud of his Senate achievements.
He plans to appeal his conviction but wants to avoid a lengthy process that might distract from the Senate’s work. His resignation, effective August 20, was announced on the Senate floor.
Menendez was first elected to the House in 1993 and became a Senator in 2006. Earlier bribery charges against him led to a mistrial in 2017, but this year’s trial resulted in a guilty verdict.
Two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, are also on trial for allegedly seeking Menendez’s help to benefit the Egyptian government and secure funds from Qatar.
They deny the charges, while a third businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez.
New Jersey Representative Andy Kim won the Democratic nomination for Senate in June. Menendez could theoretically run for re-election as an independent, which might impact the Democratic party’s efforts to maintain control of the Senate and White House.
Additionally, Menendez’s wife, facing bribery and obstruction charges, has had her trial postponed while she recovers from breast cancer surgery.
This information is based on a report by the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2gjn8le2ro