Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey is facing calls from members of his own party to resign from office after federal charges of corruption were brought against him. The calls for his resignation are quickly growing and even one of his former close allies, Rep. Bill Pascrell, has called on Menendez to resign.
Menendez, a Democrat, is accused of accepting bribes from a wealthy Florida eye doctor and using his office to help the doctor in return. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight the charges.
The charges against Menendez have cast a cloud over his career and put a focus on the ethical standards of the highest levels of government. Many of his colleagues believe that he is guilty and that it is only right for him to step down.
Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, said, “My biggest concern is that the cloud of doubt regarding the accusations against Senator Menendez weakens the integrity of the Senate. The best way to restore an atmosphere of integrity in the Senate is for him to resign.”
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, a close ally of Menendez during his time in the Senate, has yet to publicly call on his colleague to step down. However, many of the other Democratic Senators, including minority leader Chuck Schumer, have joined the chorus of voices demanding his resignation.
As of now, Menendez shows no signs of relenting. He refuses to resign and has begun to mount a vigorous defense of himself. It remains to be seen how long he will be able to maintain his seat and whether he will eventually succumb to the pressure.
If Menendez were to resign, he would be the first sitting senator in New Jersey to do so in over forty years. His seat would be filled in an interim appointment by Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat.
Regardless of how this whole situation resolves itself, Menendez’s colleagues are hoping that the ethical standard of the Senate is upheld. A fair investigation into the charges against Menendez will ensure a swift resolution to this controversy and will restore a sense of integrity in the Senate.