New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez resigned from the Senate on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Senate Democrats Announced Mr. Menendez resigns after being convicted in a bribery case involving three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has indicated he would like to replace Mr. Menendez with George S. Helmy, a health care executive and former chief of staff.
A federal judge found Menendez guilty in July of taking actions to benefit the Egyptian government in exchange for bribes, including writing letters to fellow senators advocating for military aid to Egypt and providing personnel information about the U.S. embassy in Cairo to foreign governments, The Associated Press reported. ReportedFederal authorities found $100,000 worth of gold bars and $480,000 in cash hidden in the former senator's home. (RELATED: Gov. Phil Murphy appoints former Chief of Staff George Helmy to replace Sen. Bob Menendez)
Menendez has maintained his innocence and said after the guilty verdict that he was “deeply disappointed with the jury's decision” and would appeal. “I am nothing but a patriot for my country and I have never been an agent of a foreign country,” he said.
The Democratic Party's resignation follows a source's announcement said The New York Post reported that Trump is negotiating a pardon with President Joe Biden in exchange for dropping out of the Senate race.
“I think he's asking for a pardon or a commutation of his sentence,” an anonymous New Jersey political activist told The Post. “Bob Menendez doesn't do anything without something in return. At this point, I think he's stepping aside to avoid embarrassment for his children and maybe to help his wife.”
Menendez ran as an independent for the New Jersey state Senate in July, threatening to give the Republicans a Senate seat as an obstructionist candidate in a year when control of the Senate will shift to the Republicans. probably It will be decided by one or two seats. He ended his campaign on August 16, Politico reported. Reported.
Senator Bob Menendez exits the federal courthouse in Manhattan, New York City, July 16, 2024. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)
Menendez could face up to 200 years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for October, according to the Washington Post.
In addition to aiding the Egyptian government, Menendez was also convicted of helping those he bribed secure a multimillion-dollar investment deal with a Qatari fund and a contract to provide religious certification services for meat exported to Egypt, according to the Associated Press.
Menendez has a history of corruption scandals even beyond his July conviction, having been charged in 2015 with accepting $1 million in gifts and campaign contributions from a longtime friend in exchange for giving his girlfriend influence over a visa application and Medicare billing dispute, according to the Associated Press. Menendez denied any connection to the gifts and services and was ultimately acquitted after a mistrial by a hung jury.
Democratic New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim and Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw are set to face off in November for control of Menendez's seat.
“New Jersey families deserve better than the continued corruption and made-for-TV political scandal perpetrated by Bob Menendez and the Democratic Party establishment,” Bashaw previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The DCNF reached out to Menendez for comment but was unable to get in touch.
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