Amid indictment, 70% of New Jerseyans want Sen. Menendez to resign: poll

An overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans want Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to resign amid his indictment for alleged bribery and Foreign Agents Registration Acts (FARA) violations, a recent survey has shown.

Menendez pleaded not guilty to fraud, bribery, and extortion charges in late September. Prosecutors said that they discovered gold bars and large sums of cash at his home. The New Jersey Democrat was hit with a superseding indictment this month, alleging his acted as  foreign agent for Egypt.

He has thus far resisted calls to resign, though polling data shows him to be at odds with his constituents on the matter. A recent survey from Farleigh Dickinson University indicated that 70% of residents want him out of the Senate.

That figure includes 80% of Republicans, 67% of independents, and 71% of Democrats.

FDU professor Dan Cassino highlighted the lawmaker's prior run-ins with the law, which featured heavily during his last campaign, and opined that the public appeared weary of him in light of the latest charges.

"Menendez has been able to weather charges in the past," he said. "But this time, it just doesn’t seem like he has any real support left."

Just 16% of New Jerseyans say Menendez should serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2025.

While he has refused to leave office, he did step down from his post as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in accordance with Democratic conference rules.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.