The floodgates opened Tuesday with calls from more than one dozen Senate Democrats for Sen. Robert Menendez to resign after being charged with bribery and public corruption.

The push for the New Jersey Democrat to step down from office included several senators up for reelection next year and a notable longtime ally who had vigorously defended Mr. Menendez during a previous indictment years ago: New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory A. Booker.

“Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost,” Mr. Booker said. “Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case, he must do so again. I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”

The vast majority of the resignation calls came one day after a defiant Mr. Menendez refused to relinquish his office based on what he described as “salacious” and untrue accusations, fueling the statements for his ouster.

Federal prosecutors in New York say more than a half-million dollars in cash, gold bars worth more than $100,000, and a luxury car were among the gifts that Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, accepted from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for information that would benefit the businessmen and the Egyptian government.

“I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator,” Mr. Menendez said during a Monday press conference in his home state. “Instead of waiting for all the facts to be presented, others have rushed to judgment because they see a political opportunity for themselves or those around them.”

• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.