Although he left open the prospect of running as an independent, Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey said on Thursday that he would not seek reelection in the Democratic primary for his US Senate seat.
"I have decided not to run in the June Democratic primary. A video of Menendez, who is accused of bribery and obstruction of justice, was uploaded online. "I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election," the politician said.
The announcement coincides with demands for Menendez's resignation that emerged in response to the allegations, including those from many Democratic senators.
Menendez is accused of engaging in acts of bribery to advance the interests of the governments of Egypt and Qatar, as well as to assist a number of businesspeople in New Jersey. In return, he reportedly received gold bars, cash, a high-end automobile, and tickets to the Formula One Grand Prix. Menendez has vehemently refuted the accusations made against him, asserting that he is the target of prosecutors' persecution and promising to establish his innocence.
In response to an accusation last year that he had planned to operate as Egypt's foreign agent, Menendez entered a not guilty plea. Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, is accused of aiding another foreign government, Egypt, while in office. Federal prosecutors said in a superseding indictment filed in January that Menendez took gifts from Qatar as part of a multi-year corruption plot.
Menendez rejected demands to resign from his US Senate position, although he did stand aside as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year when he was first indicted.
Following the indictments, Menendez has come under fire from colleagues who have called for his resignation. He stated on the floor that "they would deny me due process and undermine the fundamental principle of our law, that in America, you are innocent until proven otherwise. by a jury of your peers."
Menendez resisted the accusations against him in November 2023 by defending his attendance at a secret briefing on Ukraine and arguing that he had a right to get the material.
Menendez faced a very difficult Democratic primary if he had joined the run for reelection this year. Tammy Murphy, the first lady of the state and spouse of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, is a candidate. Another candidate is Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey, who has the support of Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a neighboring state. Fetterman has been the most outspoken Senate Democrat demanding that Menendez step down.
"An allegation is just that—an accusation—and I am a senator from the United States with my security clearance. It is not evidence of anything," he said at the time to CNN's Manu Raju.
Since entering the Senate in 2006, Menendez has engaged in legal disputes on many occasions.
In 2015, Menendez faced charges from federal prosecutors for conspiring to abuse his office's authority and engaging in bribery and honest services fraud.
In return for political favors, authorities alleged at the time, the senator took more than $600,000 in campaign donations, a sumptuous hotel room at the Park Hyatt in Paris, and complimentary flights on a private aircraft from affluent ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen.
"I have decided not to run in the June Democratic primary. A video of Menendez, who is accused of bribery and obstruction of justice, was uploaded online. "I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election," the politician said.
The announcement coincides with demands for Menendez's resignation that emerged in response to the allegations, including those from many Democratic senators.
Menendez is accused of engaging in acts of bribery to advance the interests of the governments of Egypt and Qatar, as well as to assist a number of businesspeople in New Jersey. In return, he reportedly received gold bars, cash, a high-end automobile, and tickets to the Formula One Grand Prix. Menendez has vehemently refuted the accusations made against him, asserting that he is the target of prosecutors' persecution and promising to establish his innocence.
In response to an accusation last year that he had planned to operate as Egypt's foreign agent, Menendez entered a not guilty plea. Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, is accused of aiding another foreign government, Egypt, while in office. Federal prosecutors said in a superseding indictment filed in January that Menendez took gifts from Qatar as part of a multi-year corruption plot.
Menendez rejected demands to resign from his US Senate position, although he did stand aside as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year when he was first indicted.
Following the indictments, Menendez has come under fire from colleagues who have called for his resignation. He stated on the floor that "they would deny me due process and undermine the fundamental principle of our law, that in America, you are innocent until proven otherwise. by a jury of your peers."
Menendez resisted the accusations against him in November 2023 by defending his attendance at a secret briefing on Ukraine and arguing that he had a right to get the material.
Menendez faced a very difficult Democratic primary if he had joined the run for reelection this year. Tammy Murphy, the first lady of the state and spouse of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, is a candidate. Another candidate is Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey, who has the support of Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a neighboring state. Fetterman has been the most outspoken Senate Democrat demanding that Menendez step down.
"An allegation is just that—an accusation—and I am a senator from the United States with my security clearance. It is not evidence of anything," he said at the time to CNN's Manu Raju.
Since entering the Senate in 2006, Menendez has engaged in legal disputes on many occasions.
In 2015, Menendez faced charges from federal prosecutors for conspiring to abuse his office's authority and engaging in bribery and honest services fraud.
In return for political favors, authorities alleged at the time, the senator took more than $600,000 in campaign donations, a sumptuous hotel room at the Park Hyatt in Paris, and complimentary flights on a private aircraft from affluent ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen.
