'Do what is right': Chuck Schumer asks Bob Menendez to resign after senator's conviction in federal corruption case

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called for Sen Bob Menendez's (D-NJ) resignation from the Senate following the New Jersey senator's conviction in the federal corruption case.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Sen Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” stated Schumer.

Sen Bob Menendez's corruption case

On Tuesday, July 16, a Manhattan jury convicted Bob Menendez on all 16 counts of bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and numerous other charges in the criminal case.

Menendez, expected to appeal the verdict, faces sentencing on October 29 and could be looking at decades in prison, according to The Hill.

Federal prosecutors accused the ex-chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his wife, Nadine Menendez of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, and lavish gifts from Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and a third businessman who pleaded guilty before the criminal trial began.

Sen Chuck Schumer's previous stance over Sen Bob Menendez's position

Despite Chuck Schumer's strong statement, he did not go so far as to threaten an expulsion resolution, which could likely pass the Senate floor given the gravity of the charges.

Initially, Schumer refrained from calling on Menendez to resign, even as over half the Senate Democratic Conference urged the senator to step down.

After the charges were publicly unveiled, Menendez voluntarily stepped down in September 2023 as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In March, Schumer said, “The Senate has certain standards that we must live up to. I am very disappointed that Sen Menendez has not lived up to those standards."

He reiterated this sentiments multiple times when questioned about Menendez's participation in classified briefings and private caucus meetings.

For the past several weeks, the convicted senator has been absent from work at the Senate to attend his criminal trial in New York.

Rep Andy Kim's call for Sen Bob Menendez's immediate resignation

Joining Chuck Schumer in calling for Bob Menendez to resign from the Senate is Rep Andy Kim (D-NJ), the Democratic nominee for Senate in New Jersey who said, "This is a sad and somber day for New Jersey and our country."

"Our public servants should work for the people, and today we saw the people judge Senator Menendez as guilty and unfit to serve,” said Kim.

“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," Kim continued.

"The people of New Jersey deserve better,” he added.