Sen. Bob Menendez is facing growing calls to resign from the Senate following corruption charges. Here is what happens if he were to step down.
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife are facing corruption and bribery charges that have led to amplified calls for the senior Democrat to resign from the Senate.
Menendez, however, has remained defiant. During a Monday morning press conference, he said he believes he will be exonerated and remain in Congress’s upper chamber. However, if he were to unexpectedly resign, all eyes would be on New Jersey Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy.
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges against Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, on Friday that include accusations that he benefited the government of Egypt and engaged in a corrupt scheme alongside Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer; Wael Hana, who runs a halal meat certification business in the state; and businessman Jose Uribe.
Menendez has since encountered growing calls to resign from within his own political party. New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez said she believes it is in the “best interest” for Menendez to resign.
