Bob Menendez to resign Senate seat following federal bribery conviction

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) plans to resign effective Aug. 20, according to two people briefed on the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.


The longtime Democratic lawmaker was convicted on July 16 of taking bribes from three businessmen who showered him and his wife with cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, an extravagant bounty for his help securing deals with foreign officials and trying to derail several criminal investigations in New Jersey.

Menendez’s spokesman, Joshua Natoli, declined to comment.


A jury in Manhattan federal found the senator guilty on 16 felony counts, including bribery, extortion and working as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/23/senator-bob-menendez-resigns-senate/

[riversedge]

1. What a horrible way to end a successful career.

[ramapo]

25. good riddance

He's my senator. Should've been gone long ago. He had some awful positions on foreign.policy too

[Ocelot II]

2. Good.

[democratsruletheday]

13. Exactly Ocelot....

whatever good will and positives this man built up over the years was flushed down the toilet in the end by his greed and hubris. Good Riddance.

[Bev54]

3. Yes!

[quaint]

4. About time.

[Traildogbob]

5. Now let's

Get the rest of Congress and senate criminals the hell outta there. No immunity, ya crime you pay the consequences. Cleaning is way last due. Justice should come with Former Prosecutor President Harris. “She knows their kind”.End Merrick, get a badger in DOJ and stop the criminals. All of em, both parties, but we know where the majority reside.

[BonnieJW]

14. I would like to see

Jaime Raskin as attorney General

[BComplex]

26. I'd prefer Katie Porter.

She would take no prisoners! Plus, she gave up her seat to run for senate in California, so she needs a good job! She's one of my all time favorite elected officials.

I'd suggest Sheldon Whitehouse, but we still need him in the Senate!

[BaronChocula]

6. Just makes me wonder

if this guy was a scumbag all his life. He seemed like a dedicated, well-informed, public servant with good intentions on the outside. Even amidst his first indictment(s?) back in the aughts. But I do recall him withholding support for the Iran nuclear deal. It occurred to me that it could have been his way of getting even against the Obama Admin.

[Sneederbunk]

8. Getting even with Obama or getting money in his pocket?

[BaronChocula]

18. And then there's that n/t

[wryter2000]

7. Thank God

Can we have Andy Kim now?

[SunSeeker]

9. Yes!! Andy Kim would be the perfect replacement. nt

[onetexan]

19. Does the governor appoint a temp replacement?

[SunSeeker]

20. Yes, but probably not Kim.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/16/nj-andy-kim-menendez-replace-00168811

[onetexan]

22. Thanks! Argg.. we need Rep Kim in there. Gov Phil is a Democrat. WTH?

[SunSeeker]

28. Right? Murphy said he doesn't want it to look like he's "putting his thumb on the scale."

What's more, if he appoints Kim now, it gives Kim months of seniority to other senators in his incoming class, which gives him seniority on committees, as noted in that article I gave you. So he would be better able to serve the people of NJ.

There's a REASON NJ voted in a Democratic governor for Pete's sake! Come on Murphy!

[onetexan]

31. Couldn't agree more. Rep Kim has been serving NJ constituents in Congress for many years. He deserves this.

[Tumbulu]

10. How will his replacement be selected?

Hoping that this will be a swift replacement with a Democrat, at least.

[SunSeeker]

12. By NJ's Democratic governor, Phil Murphy.

NJ Dems want him to appoint Andy Kim, who got 80% of the primary vote. But Murphy's staff says that's unlikely. Really stupid decision if Murphy just puts in a placeholder. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/16/nj-andy-kim-menendez-replace-00168811

[Tumbulu]

17. Thank you!

[SunSeeker]

11. We have to pressure Gov. Murphy to name Andy Kim, who got 80% of the primary vote.

Right now, it is looking like Murphy wants to "appear neutral" and not appoint Kim, just a place holder, which would hurt Dems! https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/16/nj-andy-kim-menendez-replace-00168811

[FakeNoose]

15. Good for him - he finally does the right thing

So long Bob, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Clouds Passing]

16. Why not resign immediately?

[bluewater]

21. Does he get to keep all the gold bars?

Just curious.

[tavernier]

23. No.

He’s not on the Supreme Court.

[bluewater]

24. LOL

nice!

[BComplex]

27. LOL!

[SunSeeker]

29. DUzy!

[bucolic_frolic]

30. He doesn't have immunity?

It was a big deal in the 1970s in the Abscam trial when NJ Sen. Harrison Williams fought the case against him as entrapment. People sort of assumed when the government cooked up a case it was a sting. The story was told in the movie American Hustle, sans the sting-entrapment angle. Totally ignored the issue.

Not that this was a government sting. These were real people. Sen. Menendez certainly seems to think he had some defense to the charges, and plans to appeal. Gotta respect the jury verdict though. That is how justice works unless you're on the strong long side of the SCOTUS you half appointed.