A third of all Democratic U.S. senators, including Sen. Cory Booker, called Tuesday for Sen. Bob Menendez’s resignation after federal prosecutors accused him and his wife of accepting bribes from three New Jersey businessmen.
Booker and Menendez represent the State of New Jersey. Menendez, a Democrat, said Monday that he will remain in the Senate and fight the charges.
Mendendez’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate remained silent when the criminal charges were revealed Friday. But in the following days, 17 senators said she should resign.
Democrats control the Senate by a small margin, with 51 seats, including three independents who normally vote with the party, versus 49 Republicans.
“The resignation is not an admission of guilt, but a recognition that holding public office often requires enormous sacrifice at great personal cost,” Booker said in a statement. “I believe resigning is best for those to whom Senator Menendez dedicated his life.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Menendez is entitled to a fair trial, but did not say whether he should stay or leave office. The White House has declined to say whether Menendez should resign.
Several Democratic elected officials in New Jersey, including Gov. Phil Murphy, also called for Menendez’s resignation. His seat in the Senate is among those up for grabs in next year’s elections.
If the senator were to resign, Murphy would be expected to name a temporary successor, and that is unlikely to alter the balance of power in the Senate.
However, Menendez’s legal problems could complicate his party’s efforts to maintain control of the Senate, even though New Jersey hasn’t elected a Republican to the seat since 1972.
U.S. prosecutors said Menendez accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for using his power and influence to aid the Egyptian government and interfere with police investigations into the men business.
If convicted, he and his wife, Nadine Menendez, could face up to 45 years in prison, although judges in these types of cases generally impose a sentence less than the maximum.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
