Senator Bob Menendez has refuted allegations suggesting he is on the verge of resigning due to pressure from his Democratic colleagues following a conviction on corruption charges.
Despite reports from NBC News claiming Menendez had indicated to close associates his intention to step down, effectively concluding over three decades of legislative service, he firmly dismissed these claims in a statement to CBS New York. Menendez emphasized that he had not engaged in discussions with any purported allies about his resignation, hinting at an external push to precipitate such a declaration. "It appears there's an orchestrated effort to coerce me into making a statement," Menendez asserted, underlining his resistance to pressure tactics.
Menendez's political career spans six terms in the House of Representatives prior to his election to the Senate in 2006. The controversy surrounding him intensified during his trial, prompting him to file for reelection as an independent, distancing himself from the Democratic Party. With sentencing scheduled for October 29, merely days before the upcoming election, Menendez faces a potential lengthy prison term.
In response to the conviction, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly called for Menendez's immediate resignation. Further complicating matters for Menendez is Politico's report that at least twelve Democratic senators are contemplating supporting expulsion proceedings against him should he decide against resignation. Among those is Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside Senator Debbie Stabenow who occupies the third-ranking Democratic leadership position in the Senate. Stabenow expressed her disappointment in Menendez, accusing him of betraying both his constituents' trust and his responsibilities as a senator, advocating for his expulsion absent a voluntary resignation.
Despite reports from NBC News claiming Menendez had indicated to close associates his intention to step down, effectively concluding over three decades of legislative service, he firmly dismissed these claims in a statement to CBS New York. Menendez emphasized that he had not engaged in discussions with any purported allies about his resignation, hinting at an external push to precipitate such a declaration. "It appears there's an orchestrated effort to coerce me into making a statement," Menendez asserted, underlining his resistance to pressure tactics.
Menendez's political career spans six terms in the House of Representatives prior to his election to the Senate in 2006. The controversy surrounding him intensified during his trial, prompting him to file for reelection as an independent, distancing himself from the Democratic Party. With sentencing scheduled for October 29, merely days before the upcoming election, Menendez faces a potential lengthy prison term.
In response to the conviction, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly called for Menendez's immediate resignation. Further complicating matters for Menendez is Politico's report that at least twelve Democratic senators are contemplating supporting expulsion proceedings against him should he decide against resignation. Among those is Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside Senator Debbie Stabenow who occupies the third-ranking Democratic leadership position in the Senate. Stabenow expressed her disappointment in Menendez, accusing him of betraying both his constituents' trust and his responsibilities as a senator, advocating for his expulsion absent a voluntary resignation.
