Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., will cave into a litany of Senate Democrats’ calls for him to resign following his bribery conviction last week, according to multiple outlets, potentially setting up an open seat for a new senator who will be appointed by Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
Menendez's resignation will be effective next month. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Menendez will vacate his Senate seat effective Aug. 20, according to The Washington Post, which cited two unnamed people briefed on the decision.
Menendez’s decision comes after he was convicted on all 16 charges in his corruption trial, in which the senator was accused of using his political power to help the Qatari and Egyptian governments and three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and several other Senate Democrats called for Menendez to vacate his office after the conviction, with some suggesting they were in favor of expelling Menendez if he refused to step down.
A formal resignation from Menendez would mean a Murphy-appointed replacement for the disgraced senator, whose term would have ended in January.
Sen. Cory Booker, New Jersey’s other Democratic senator, offered to lead the expulsion effort against Menendez, which requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, according to CBS News.
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“If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel him,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Tuesday. “In the event of a vacancy, I will exercise my duty to make a temporary appointment to ensure the people of New Jersey have the representation they deserve.”