Vulnerable Democrats to donate money they took from Menendez as calls for his resignation grow

Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., on Tuesday pledged to donate the $10,000 they accepted from the political action committee of indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who is facing growing calls to resign. 

Fellow New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker commented Tuesday on the charges facing Menendez for the first time after remaining silent on the matter following his indictment last week.

Menendez, who was indicted alongside his wife on bribery charges, "deserves our presumption of innocence until proven guilty," Booker said, CNN reported.

"Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost. Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case, he must do so again," Booker also said. 

Casey and Tester, both vulnerable Democrats, called for Menendez to resign in addition to donating the funding from his PAC.

The senator's calls for his resignation come after House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday on MSNBC that it would "probably be a good idea" if Menendez resigned. 

Menendez has resisted calls to resign and said the thousands of dollars discovered in his home were from his personal savings account, according to the "New York Post."

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