Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has informed allies that he will resign from Congress following his conviction on federal corruption charges, according to two individuals directly familiar with the discussions.

Menendez, who had resisted numerous calls from Senate Democrats to step down, has decided to resign after a guilty verdict and escalating threats of expulsion. Sources reveal that Menendez has been contacting allies to inform them of his decision, which concludes a three-decade Congressional career marked by significant legislative achievements and two high-profile criminal trials.

Notable Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and fellow New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker, had urged Menendez to resign. Schumer emphasized the need for Menendez to step down in light of the conviction, citing the importance of doing what is right for constituents, the Senate, and the country.

The senator was convicted on Tuesday of 16 federal charges related to using his office to benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar in exchange for bribes. The bribes included cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, a luxury vehicle, and other valuables.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, one of the first Democrats to call for Menendez’s resignation, will appoint a temporary senator to serve until the term ends in January 2025. Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw are campaigning to fill Menendez’s Senate seat in the upcoming November election. Menendez had filed to run for re-election as an independent, contingent on exoneration.

Menendez’s political career began in the mid-1980s as the mayor of Union City. He served 13 years in the House before joining the Senate in 2006. He chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee twice and remained an active member of the Senate even after his indictment.

In September, Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. A subsequent indictment accused him of accepting bribes from a foreign government and conspiring to act as a foreign agent, claiming he provided sensitive U.S. government information to Egypt.

Menendez has denied the allegations, labeling them as part of a smear campaign and asserting that prosecutors misrepresented normal Congressional activities. He has announced plans to appeal the conviction.

In 2015, Menendez faced similar charges involving favors from a Florida optometrist, which led to a mistrial. He became the first sitting senator to be indicted on two separate criminal allegations, as per the Senate Historical Office.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Menendez was a key proponent of immigration reform and co-authored the bipartisan “Gang of 8” bill in 2013. He also introduced a framework last year to reform immigration programs, including new pathways to citizenship amid concerns over migrant crossings at the southern border.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)