Sen. Bob Menendez will resign seat Aug. 20 after bribery conviction

Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat convicted last week in a federal bribery case, will resign his Senate seat effective Aug. 20, he said in a letter.

Menendez said last Wednesday that he would quit the Senate as a result of his criminal conviction, but he had not given a date. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who is also a Democrat, will appoint a senator to fill out the brief remainder of Menendez’s term.

Menendez was found guilty of all 16 criminal counts on July 17 in Manhattan federal court in a case where he was accused of accepting bribes, which included cash and gold bars, in exchange for taking actions that benefited the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

“While I fully intend to appeal the jury’s verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work,” Menendez wrote in his resignation letter to Murphy.

“Furthermore, I cannot preserve my rights upon a successful appeal, because factual matters before the ethics committee are not privileged,” he wrote.

“I am proud of the many accomplishments I’ve had on behalf of New Jersey, such as leading the federal effort for Superstorm Sandy recovery, preserving and funding Gateway and leading the federal efforts to help save our hospitals, State and municipalities, as well as New Jersey families through a once in a century COVID pandemic,” Menendez wrote.

Two New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were convicted in the same trial of charges related to bribing Menendez. A third defendant, Jose Uribe, previously pleaded guilty in the case.

Menendez is due to be sentenced Oct. 29.

His wife, Nadine Menendez, who also was criminally charged in the case, had her trial severed from that of the senator and the other defendants. Nadine’s trial was delayed indefinitely as a result of surgery following a diagnosis of breast cancer.