This year has been one for the history books. Now it’s only getting crazier.
And massive resignation news just shook Washington, D.C. to its core.
Disgraced Sen. Bob Menendez is set to resign from the Senate on Aug. 20, according to a letter sent to the New Jersey governor’s office, confirmed by a source to The Post on Tuesday.
Pressure had been mounting for the 70-year-old senator to step down as he faced bribery allegations. The calls for his resignation intensified after he was convicted on 16 counts of using his political influence to benefit Egypt, Qatar, and three wealthy associates in exchange for cash, gold bars, and other gifts.
Despite his conviction, Menendez continued to assert his innocence and pledged to appeal. The three-term Democrat could face decades in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 29.
Rumors of Menendez’s resignation spread quickly as he found himself isolated in the Senate, with even Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) publicly urging him to step down following his conviction.
This was notable given the Democrats’ narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate. Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy would be responsible for appointing a replacement.
Initially, Menendez rejected the idea of resigning.
“I have not resigned nor spoken to any so-called allies,” Menendez told CBS News on Wednesday.
“It seems there’s an effort to force me into a statement, and anyone who knows me knows that’s the worst way to achieve a goal with me.”
Earlier this month, Menendez claimed he had secured the necessary signatures to launch an independent bid for the Senate. However, he had already announced in March that he would not seek re-election as a Democrat amid the bribery case against him.
Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) has since secured the party’s nomination for the seat and is the clear favorite to win, given the district’s Democratic lean.
Polls indicated that Menendez was unlikely to retain his seat if he attempted a run in the November election.
Meanwhile, his son, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), managed to win a competitive primary last month despite the scandal surrounding his father.
The elder Menendez had been a leading voice on foreign policy but was pressured to step down from the powerful Senate Committee on Foreign Relations last year due to his indictment.
Menendez was found guilty of using his political power to receive gifts, including cash, 1-kilogram gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and more in exchange for political favors. He denied these allegations.
His co-defendants included his wife Nadine, 57, businessman Wael Hana, 40, and businessman Fred Daibes, 66. All were convicted of providing bribes to Menendez in exchange for political benefits. Nadine’s trial has been postponed indefinitely due to her breast cancer treatment.
Prosecutors presented evidence, including photos of 13 gold bars worth roughly $150,000, $14,500 in cash, and envelopes of cash found in Menendez’s Senate jacket. Text messages and other documentation further supported the charges.
Menendez allegedly penned a letter requesting the federal government to unfreeze $300 million in aid to Egypt, which had been withheld over human rights concerns, and worked to protect Hana’s halal meat business, among other actions taken between 2018 and 2022.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
