In a significant development in New Jersey politics, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has announced his resignation from the Senate, effective August 20, following immense pressure from his fellow Democrats. This decision comes on the heels of Menendez’s recent conviction on federal bribery charges, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The New Jersey Globe first reported the planned resignation, and The Hill has reached out to Menendez’s office for further comment. The senator, who had previously denied intentions to step down, is now yielding to mounting calls from Democratic leaders who had threatened to initiate an expulsion vote if he did not resign voluntarily.

Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker, among others, have been vocal in their demands for Menendez’s resignation since his indictment in September 2023. The bribery scandal that led to Menendez’s conviction involves accusations of him and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen and benefiting Egypt’s government between 2018 and 2022. These allegations were brought to light through a prolonged public-corruption investigation by the Justice Department.

On July 16, Menendez was found guilty on 16 felony counts, including bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent. Despite his conviction, Menendez has consistently maintained his innocence and has announced plans to appeal the verdict. His sentencing is set for October 29.

This is not Menendez’s first legal battle. In 2015, he faced a similar indictment on bribery and conspiracy charges related to gifts he allegedly received from a wealthy Democratic donor. That case ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict despite extensive deliberation.

Menendez, who was appointed to the Senate in 2006 by then-Governor John Corzine following Corzine’s election as governor, has been a prominent figure in New Jersey politics. The trial for his wife, Nadine Menendez, has been postponed indefinitely as she recovers from breast cancer surgery.

As the resignation date approaches, the political landscape in New Jersey braces for the next steps in filling the vacant Senate seat and addressing the fallout from the corruption scandal that has rocked the state’s political establishment.

Credit: CBS News