Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Sunday stopped short of calling on his colleague, Sen. Bob Menendez, to resign after the New Jersey Democrat was indicted on federal corruption charges. .
Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, described the charges against Menendez as “very serious” but emphasized that Menendez was innocent until proven guilty.
“There is a presumption of innocence. How far he goes in terms of his future service is something the senator and New Jersey will decide,” Durbin told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“This is a very serious accusation. There is no doubt about it,” she added. “But it is worth reminding ourselves of what I have said about the accusations against Donald Trump, equally serious charges. In fact, these are accusations that must be proven.”
Durbin’s comments echo those of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who emphasized Friday that Menendez “has the right to due process and a fair trial.”
Several prominent New Jersey Democrats have called on Menendez to resign since the 69-year-old senator and his wife Nadine were accused of pocketing bribes (including 13 gold bars, $566,000 in cash and a Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan) in a “corrupt” operation. “Agreement that will benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the government of Egypt.
Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin stopped short of calling for New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez to resign after he was indicted on federal bribery charges. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Durbin called the allegations “very serious” but said Menendez still has a “presumption of innocence.”
“Given the seriousness of the charges, I asked him to step aside,” New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer explained on “State of the Union.”
“Elections are coming up and obviously there are a lot of distractions,” the Democrat continued. “I think it’s best for him to step aside.”
Gov. Phil Murphy also implored Menendez to resign, and Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said he plans to summon Menendez, who is up for re-election in 2024, in the wake of the indictment.
Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of accepting bribes, including 13 gold bars, $566,000 in cash and a Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan. Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
One man who has ruled out running for the seat is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is vying for the Republican nomination for president in 2024.
“I had the opportunity to appoint myself to the United States Senate,” Christie said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “If I haven’t designated myself the easiest way to get there, I sure as hell won’t run.”
LOOK: Fmr. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rules out running for Senate if Sen. Menendez (D) runs for re-election.@GovernorChristie: “I had the opportunity to be appointed to the United States Senate… If I don’t appoint myself, the easiest way to get there, I’m sure I won’t run.” pic.twitter.com/QoKd3C4Rgv
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 24, 2023
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also called on Menendez to resign on Sunday, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against the senator.
“It shouldn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat, the details of this allegation are extremely serious,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
FBI agents allegedly discovered the $566,000 in cash and some of the gold bars during a raid on Menendez’s home in Englewood Cliffs in June 2022.
Prosecutors cited text messages and a trove of digital evidence in the three-count indictment against Menendez, unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court.
Menendez has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Menendez has denied the charges and refuses to resign. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latin American from humble origins could become a United States senator,” he said in a defiant statement Friday. “Worse still, they see me as an obstacle in the way of their broader political goals.”
Menendez postponed a Hispanic Heritage Month event he was expected to headline in Union City, New Jersey, on Sunday.
In accordance with Senate Democratic caucus rules, he chose to temporarily resign from his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Schumer will decide on a temporary replacement on the powerful committee.
Menendez had long been influential in foreign policy, but had in the past divided with Democrats on policy toward Iran and Afghanistan.
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