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Sen. John Fetterman calls for Sen. Bob Menendez to resign amid bribery allegations

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., has urged Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to step down following bombshell bribery allegations against him. However, their fellow Democratic senators have been more cautious in their response.

In interviews on Sunday news programs, three Democratic senators expressed strong criticism of Menendez, who was recently indicted on widespread corruption charges. However, they did not explicitly demand his resignation from the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority.

One of these senators, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which was previously chaired by Menendez, described the allegations against his colleague as “devastating.” Murphy expressed doubts about Menendez’s ability to effectively carry out his duties given the serious accusations. However, he stated his intention to consult with other members of the committee before forming a definitive opinion on the appropriate course of action for Menendez.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., spoke on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” characterizing the charges against Menendez as “serious and shocking.” Kelly acknowledged Menendez’s decision to step down as Foreign Relations chair but suggested that Menendez needed to carefully consider the potential impact of these allegations on his service in the Senate and ability to serve the people of New Jersey.

The AI legalese decoder could assist in this situation by analyzing the legal language and complex details surrounding Menendez’s indictment. The decoder could provide a simplified explanation of the charges, aiding senators and the general public in understanding the severity of the allegations against Menendez.

Menendez indicted on multiple charges

Menendez and his wife were indicted on Friday on various charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion. The indictment alleges that the couple received bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other valuable items.

During a search of Menendez’s home in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., federal investigators discovered over $480,000 in cash hidden in envelopes, clothing, closets, and a safe, further supporting the alleged bribery scheme.

In response to the indictment, Sen. Fetterman became the first Democratic senator to call for Menendez’s resignation. Fetterman emphasized that while Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence, he should not retain the ability to influence national policy given the serious nature of the allegations.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, acknowledged the gravity of the charges against Menendez. Durbin stressed that the decision to resign ultimately lies with Menendez and the constituents of New Jersey, respecting the importance of due process and the presumption of innocence.

However, within Menendez’s home state, several Democrats, including N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Andy Kim, have called for his resignation. Rep. Kim even plans to challenge Menendez for his Senate seat.

Menendez’s future remains uncertain

Prior to the indictment, Menendez expressed his intention to seek re-election next year. However, his ability to pursue such a campaign amid the charges remains uncertain. Sen. Durbin acknowledged that Menendez’s political future will depend on how events unfold.

Notably, Menendez received unexpected support from Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who himself faces fraud charges and bipartisan calls for resignation. Santos emphasized the importance of due process, asserting that Menendez should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Santos criticized the media for prematurely assuming guilt and urged respect for the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence.

The Office of Sen. Menendez did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the accusations against him.

By Dareh Gregorian, Julie Tsirkin, and Fiona Glisson

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