Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer is calling on Sen. Robert Menendez to resign after a jury found the New Jersey Democrat guilty of accepting bribes and other corruption-related charges.
A majority of Senate Democrats called on Menendez to resign last year after he was indicted on the various corruption charges. But Mr. Schumer declined to go that far, saying that despite Menendez’s alleged actions falling below the standards of a senator, the legal process should be allowed to play out.
But with the trial reaching a conclusion Tuesday, Mr. Schumer said it was time to speak up.
“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” the New York Democrat said in a statement.
Menendez had already effectively been pushed out of the Democratic Party and is running for election this November as an independent. He faces an uphill climb without the party resources behind him, and his conviction will only complicate his reelection chances.
Rep. Andy Kim, New Jersey Democrat, won the party’s nomination to run for Menendez’s seat in November.
“I called on Senator Menendez to step down when these charges were first made public, and now that he has been found guilty, I believe the only course of action for him is to resign his seat immediately,” Mr. Kim said. “The people of New Jersey deserve better.”
The jury found Mr. Menendez guilty on all charges, including bribery, extortion, fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and acting as an Egyptian foreign agent.
During the nine-week trial leading up to the verdict, prosecutors laid out their case accusing Mr. Mendendez of abusing his power as a senator and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to protect allies from criminal investigations and to enrich associates, including his wife.
They alleged he accepted gold bars and cash as bribes from New Jersey businessmen in exchange for taking official actions benefiting Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez’s lawyers argued the gold bars belonged to Nadine Menendez, who also faces charges. Her trial was postponed while she is recovering from breast cancer surgery.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reiterated his call for Menendez to resign and said if he refuses, the Senate should vote to expel him. Such a vote would require a two-thirds majority to be successful.
“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,” Mr. Murphy said.
Menendez had to temporarily give up his post as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee after his indictment. Now that he is convicted, Senate Democratic Caucus rules call for him to be permanently stripped of the gavel.
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland Democrat, has been serving as the acting Foreign Relations chair and is expected to take over through the end of the Congress, when he is retiring. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat, is next in line in seniority to serve as the panel’s top Democrat.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.