Democratic Senator Cory Booker called on his counterpart Bob Menéndez to resign amid allegations of bribery by prosecutors. Menéndez said he hopes to emerge victorious.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday joined a growing list of Democrats calling for Sen. Bob Menendez to resign.
Menendez was recently accused of accepting bribes from three businessmen to support the Egyptian government and interfering in the investigations against the three men.
New Jersey Senator Booker is set to become the main voice calling for his fellow New Jersey senator to resign, as the two were close during their time in Congress. Booker testified on Menendez’s behalf in 2017 in a trial in which he was accused of corruption.
Booker issued a statement praising Menendez as a person and colleague, but said the senator’s role requires a lot of public trust and it would be best if he resigned.
Read also: Accused of bribery, Senator Menéndez “temporarily” resigns from the presidency of the Foreign Affairs Committee
“Resigning is not an admission of guilt, but rather a recognition that taking public office often requires enormous sacrifice and great personal cost. Senator Menéndez has made these sacrifices for his service in the past, and in this case he must do so again. “I believe that resignation is in the best interests of those Senator Menendez has served throughout his life,” Booker said in the statement.
Booker joins Democratic U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey, Jon Tester and Mark Kelly in calling for Senator Menendez’s resignation. Everyone has given comments on this.
“While Senator Menendez enjoys the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and will have his time in court to defend himself, I believe it is best for his constituents, the American people and our national security that Senator resigns,” he said. Baldwin in a statement from X, formerly Twitter.
“Public service is a sacred trust. “The specific allegations in the federal indictment show to me that Senator Menéndez has repeatedly violated that trust,” Casey said of X.
Also read USA: Senator Menéndez rejects corruption allegations
“This is a violation of that trust and a burden that I believe will prevent him from carrying out his duties to the fullest extent. “I should resign,” Kelly said, also of X.
“I have read the detailed charges against Senator Menendez and find them deeply disturbing. “While he deserves a fair trial like every other American, I believe Senator Menendez should resign to increase public confidence in the U.S. Senate,” Tester said in a statement on his website.
Senator Menéndez, the “temporarily” resigned from his position As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he made it clear that he intended to remain in the Senate, but stated that he would not ultimately be found guilty on all counts.
“I have every confidence that once all the facts are presented, I will not only be exonerated, but I will remain New Jersey’s senior senator,” Menendez said in a statement.