Bob Menendez will resign his US Senate seat effective August 20

CNN
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Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will resign his seat efficient August 20, in response to a duplicate of his resignation letter obtained by CNN.

In July, Menendez was convicted of 16 counts — together with bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and appearing as a international agent — for his function in a yearslong bribery scheme.

Tuesday’s developments mark a significant second within the New Jersey senator’s dramatic political downfall and can carry an finish to his scandal-plagued tenure within the Senate. Menendez had confronted mounting stress from inside his personal social gathering to resign or face the specter of expulsion from the Senate.

Receipt of Menendez’s resignation letter was introduced Tuesday on the Senate ground in a quick change between Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer and Presiding Officer Sen. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is predicted to nominate a alternative to fill the rest of Menendez’s time period, which ends on January 3, 2025.

Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw are set to face off within the November normal election for the seat. Menendez, who had been up for reelection this yr, had beforehand filed to run as an impartial. Menendez didn’t instantly say whether or not he nonetheless intends to run as an impartial.

Menendez has represented New Jersey in Congress as a Democrat since being elected in 1992, first as a US consultant after which as senator.

Menendez, who faces sentencing on October 29, has maintained he by no means violated his public oath and has mentioned he has by no means been something “however a patriot of my nation and for my nation.”

“Clearly, I’m deeply, deeply upset by the jury’s choice,” Menendez informed reporters outdoors the courtroom after he was discovered responsible. “I’ve each religion that the legislation and the information didn’t maintain that call and that we are going to achieve success upon enchantment.”

Within the aftermath of the conviction, requires Menendez to resign grew louder, with Schumer among the many voices on Capitol Hill urging the senator to step down.

“In mild of this responsible verdict, Senator Menendez should now do what is correct for his constituents, the Senate, and our nation, and resign,” Schumer mentioned in an announcement.

Menendez stepped down as chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee final yr, however had lengthy rejected calls to resign his US Senate seat.

Schumer informed CNN that he’ll “defer to the Ethics Committee,” as as to if Menendez can proceed to obtain labeled briefings till his official resignation date. The Senate Ethics Committee introduced Monday that that they had initiated a evaluation of Menendez’s alleged guidelines violations.

Prosecutors efficiently argued that the senator tried to make use of his energy to advance Egyptian navy pursuits, intervene in legal prosecutions and safe funding from Qatari officers, amongst different issues. Menendez and his spouse allegedly acquired gold bars, tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in money, a Mercedes-Benz convertible and different bribes in change for his affect.

The senator’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, was additionally charged within the case, however her trial was postponed indefinitely by the choose after her breast most cancers prognosis. She has pleaded not responsible.

Essentially the most severe prices of extortion and wire fraud carry a statutory most of 20 years in jail on every depend. In all, Menendez faces a most of 222 years in jail for the 16 prices if served consecutively. Nevertheless, any sentences would run concurrently except the court docket orders in any other case.

Menendez has served within the Senate since 2006 – and this was not the primary time he had confronted a authorized battle. Menendez was charged by federal prosecutors in 2015 with conspiracy, bribery and sincere companies fraud regarding allegedly abusing the ability of his workplace. On the time, prosecutors mentioned the senator accepted greater than $600,000 in political contributions, an expensive resort suite on the Park Hyatt in Paris, and free rides on a personal jet from a rich ophthalmologist, Dr. Salomon Melgen, in change for political favors.

The corruption trial led to a mistrial in November 2017 after the jury reported it was deadlocked. Each males denied the entire prices.

This story has been up to date with extra developments.

CNN’s Manu Raju, Ted Barrett and Owen Dahlkamp contributed to this report.