NJ Senator Menendez Defiant as Calls for Resignation Increase Amidst Federal Bribery Charges
New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez is facing increasing calls for his resignation as he addresses his fellow Democratic Senate colleagues for the first time since being indicted on federal bribery charges. With more than half of Senate Democrats demanding his resignation, Menendez has shown no intention of stepping down, signaling a defiant stance against the allegations.
Despite losing support from colleagues in New Jersey and Washington who have distanced themselves over the charges—accusing him of secretly advancing Egyptian interests and pressuring prosecutors to help his friends—Menendez maintains his innocence. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday and declared at a news conference earlier this week that he firmly believes he will be exonerated.
The closed-door party luncheon in the Capitol, during which Menendez will address his colleagues, could determine the path ahead for the three-term senator. Menendez has already relinquished his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee due to the federal charges. He has yet to announce whether he intends to seek re-election next year, and Democrat New Jersey Representative Andy Kim has already entered the primary race.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has hinted at the uncertainty surrounding Menendez’s political future, stating that they will see what happens after Menendez addresses his colleagues on Thursday. Schumer did not explicitly call for Menendez’s resignation, but expressed disappointment and disturbance upon reading the indictment.
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Menendez remained silent except for acknowledging each charge presented against him. He was released on a $100,000 bond and must surrender any personal passports, although he will retain an official passport for government business purposes. The judge ordered him not to have contact with his co-defendants, aside from his wife and in the presence of lawyers.
This marks the second corruption case against Menendez in the past decade. The previous trial, which involved different allegations, ended with the jury unable to reach a verdict in 2017. While Menendez previously garnered significant support from his colleagues, including fellow New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker, who acted as a character witness, Booker now calls for Menendez’s resignation, citing shocking allegations of corruption and specific, disturbing details of wrongdoing presented in the new indictment.
Federal authorities discovered almost $500,000 in cash, concealed within clothing and closets, as well as over $100,000 worth of gold bars during a search of Menendez’s New Jersey home. Menendez has claimed that the cash found was accumulated through personal savings over the years and kept for emergencies. However, prosecutors have noted that one envelope containing cash is linked to the DNA of one of the businessmen charged as his co-conspirators, further implicating Menendez.
According to the indictment, Menendez took repeated actions to support Egypt’s authoritarian government, disregarding the U.S. government’s concerns regarding the country’s human rights record. Congress has previously imposed restrictions on aid to Egypt due to these concerns. Prosecutors allege that Menendez provided sensitive U.S. government information to Egyptian officials and ghostwrote a letter to fellow senators, urging them to release $300 million in aid to Egypt, a major recipient of U.S. military support.
The outcome of Menendez’s address to his colleagues could have significant implications for his political career and the upcoming 2022 election. As the calls for his resignation grow louder, Menendez remains defiant in his innocence, convinced that he will emerge vindicated from the federal bribery charges.
