NBC News is reporting that convicted Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is telling allies that he will resign from office.
From the report: ‘Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has told allies that he will resign from Congress after being convicted on federal corruption charges, two people directly familiar with those conversations tell NBC News.’
Menendez was found guilty on Tuesday by a New York jury, and demands for his resignation grew in the immediate aftermath. Talk of Senate expulsion, a rare historic move, also began growing, with a dozen Democratic lawmakers in support of removing Menendez from the Senate if he refused to resign, per Politico NJ.
The NBC report says that Menendez ‘had been defiant for months in the face of calls from dozens of Senate Democrats to resign’ and ‘appears to have finally relented after the guilty verdict and growing threats to expel him if he refused. He is calling allies to them of his intention to resign’, sources told NBC.
From Insider NJ earlier today:
Junior U.S. Senator Cory Booker says he will lead the effort to catapult Senior U.S. Senator Bob Menendez out of the United States Senate. Critically, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also says Menendez should go.
Should Menendez indeed resign, Governor Murphy would be empowered to appoint a temporary replacement to the seat. The last time that happened in the Garden State was in 2013, following the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg; former Governor Christie appointed then Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, a Republican, to the seat. He opted against running for the seat, for which a special election was held and won by then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
Senate Minority Leader Bucco weighed in this evening on the report, urging Murphy to appoint a placeholder, and not Democratic Senate nominee Rep. Andy Kim: “Appointing candidate Andy Kim to fill this vacancy would put the thumb on the scale – benefiting one candidate before an election, and further eroding what little trust the public still has in its officials after Senator Menendez’s conviction. New Jersey has to end the special insider deals that got us here. I’m urging Governor Murphy to do the right thing, appoint a trusted and respected leader as a placeholder, and let the voters have their say this November without interference. This is the model Governor Christie embraced following the death of Senator Lautenberg, which allowed a fair and honest election to play out for voters.”
Menendez survived his first corruption trial in 2017 with a hung jury – but couldn’t escape the lurid evidence of gold bars accepted for services delivered as he absorbed a damning guilty verdict.
(Visited 23 times, 23 visits today)
Click here for the full Insider Index
After serving as the president of NBC News for the past five years, Menendez has recently informed his allies of his intention to resign from the prestigious network. This news comes as a shock to many in the industry, as Menendez has been a key figure in shaping the direction of NBC News during his tenure.
Menendez’s decision to step down from his role at NBC News is said to be driven by personal reasons, although the exact details surrounding his departure have not been disclosed. However, sources close to Menendez have indicated that he is looking to pursue new opportunities outside of the media industry.
During his time at NBC News, Menendez has been credited with overseeing several successful initiatives, including the launch of new programs and the expansion of the network’s digital presence. His leadership has been instrumental in helping NBC News maintain its position as one of the top news organizations in the country.
Menendez’s departure from NBC News is sure to have a significant impact on the network and its employees. Many are left wondering who will step in to fill his shoes and continue the work that he has started. It remains to be seen what the future holds for NBC News in the wake of Menendez’s resignation.
In conclusion, Menendez’s decision to resign from NBC News marks the end of an era for the network. His leadership and vision have helped shape the direction of NBC News, and his departure will undoubtedly leave a void that will be difficult to fill. As Menendez moves on to new opportunities, the industry will be watching closely to see what he does next.
