Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey has come under an increasing amount of pressure from his colleagues in Congress to resign.
The tide of the accusations stem from a 2015 trial that resulted in a hung jury on charges of bribery, tax evasion, and other related felonies. Sen. Menendez was accused of taking over $1 million in bribes in exchange for political favors. After the trial, the Justice Department decided not to retry the case against the senator.
Since then, numerous members of the Senate and House have called for Senator Menendez to step down from his seat. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently stated that should the ethics committee find against Senator Menendez, he should resign immediately.
Senator Menendez’s response to the growing calls for him to resign has been adamant refusal. In a recent press conference, he denied the accusations against him, saying “I have nothing to hide and will not step down. I have done nothing wrong and I will continue to fight for the people of New Jersey.”
It is highly unlikely that a conviction of Senator Menendez would result in his removal from the Senate. But the continued public pressure may eventually force him out. Numerous polls have shown that the majority of people in New Jersey oppose Senator Menendez and his trial. If the public opinion does not reverse in the senator’s favor, he will likely face re-election problems in 2020.
The situation is developing rapidly and the outcome is yet to be seen. Senator Menendez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and expressed his dedication to his constituents. Whether he will actually be able to stay in his senate seat remains to be seen.