Due to his indictment on allegations of fraud and bribery, more than half of Senate Democrats are now requesting that Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey step down from office.
According to Reuters on Tuesday, 26 Democratic senators had demanded that Menendez resign. By Wednesday, there were thirty Democrats on the call, including Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.
The best thing Senator Robert Menendez could do for the people of New Jersey, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Menendez’s colleague Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, is to resign.
Majority Whip Durbin remarked that Menendez’s conduct were “way, way below the standard” of his office in his statement demanding Menendez’s resignation, as published by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Menendez’s incapacity to serve has been made evident by the governor of New Jersey and the other senator from the state, according to Durbin.
Out of the 21 Senate Democrats who have not demanded that Menendez resign, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer is one of them.
Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, declared last weekend that he would oppose Menendez in the 2024 primary.
Menendez stated last Friday that he would not be leaving his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, despite his temporary resignation.
During a news conference on Monday, Menendez refuted any misconduct and pledged to stay in the Senate. He informed reporters that he will not only be cleared of all charges but also continue to serve as the senior senator for New Jersey.
Menendez reaffirmed his commitment to staying in a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats on Thursday, following requests for his resignation from thirty of his colleagues, according to CNBC.
Since the Senate Ethics Committee is anticipated to investigate Menendez’s behavior, the three Democrats on the committee did not show up for the meeting.
Menendez informed reporters after the discussion behind closed doors that he will “continue to cast votes on behalf of the people of New Jersey,” just as he has done for the previous eighteen years.
