Senate Democrats call for Menendez to resign after guilty verdict 'or face expulsion'

Senate Democrats on Tuesday are calling for Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, to resign or be expelled from the Senate after he was convicted by a New Jersey jury on corruption and bribery charges.

Menendez was found guilty on all 16 felony counts of obstruction of justice, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and acting as a foreign agent. The senator will be sentenced on Oct. 29. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was among the first to call for the senator's resignation shortly after the verdict was read, but other Democrats have threatened to expel Menendez if he does not resign.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said in a statement.

Sens. Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, and Jacky Rosen from Nevada, said they support expelling Menendez if he does not step down voluntarily, according to NBC News.

Senate rules do not require senators to resign if convicted of felonies, but if he does leave his post, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term, which ends in November.

“As I said when he was charged, public service is a sacred trust and Senator Menendez has broken that trust,” Casey posted to X. “Now that a jury of his peers has found him guilty on all 16 charges, including acting as a foreign agent, Senator Menendez should resign or face expulsion from the Senate.”

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Patty Murray of Washington, Tim Kaine in Virginia., Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Laphonza Butler of California have also urged Menendez to resign.

“I strongly reiterate my call for him to step down. No one is above the law—it’s pretty straightforward," Murray, the Senate president pro tempore, said in a statement. "Now if only my Republican colleagues would apply the same standards to the convicted felon who is running for President of the United States as their nominee."

Menendez has not indicated whether he plans to resign from his post, but he is expected to appeal the verdict. 

The case centered on allegations that the senator and his wife Nadine accepted bribes in exchange for acting to benefit the governments in Egypt and Qatar when he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez resigned as the chairman when he was indicted.

Nadine Menendez will also stand trial for her charges, but is being tried separately after her court date was delayed for her breast cancer treatment. She has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.