According to the New Jersey Globe, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who was indicted on federal charges of bribery, is expected to announce his intention to run for reelection on Monday.
Menendez, in the aftermath of the indictment, has been defiant and asserted that he is being targeted because he is Latino. In a press release, he stated that he was not surprised by the speed with which some people rush to judge and expel a Latino. “I am not going anywhere.”
The embattled senator’s forthcoming announcement comes as several high-profile Democrats have called on him to resign from the U.S. Senate. “[T]he alleged facts are so serious they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.
Menendez will be up for reelection again in 2024. He hasn’t yet announced his candidacy. Three Democrats have declared their candidacies and it is unclear whether his indictment would affect his ability to get endorsements.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who was indicted on federal charges of corruption on Friday, will hold a news conference in Hudson County on Monday morning. He began his political career in Hudson County as a school board member aged 20.
The New Jersey Globe reported that Menendez was not expected to resign but instead take a defiant stance against the accusations against him. He is expected to make it clear that he will run for re-election again in 2024.
Menendez made two statements Friday, the second one after Gov. Phil Murphy, along with a large number of Democratic Party leaders and elected officials called for his resignation.
Menendez has been accused of accepting “hundreds and thousands of dollars in bribes”, including cash, gold, and lavish gifts. He was then to use his position as a U.S. Senator to benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian Government. In addition to her husband, the senator’s spouse was indicted.
Menendez is no stranger to legal troubles. He was accused of many crimes, including prostitution underage, but he never received a charge despite the evidence. He can thank Obama’s Justice Department for this. Menendez’s desire to run for reelection may be a problem for Democrats, even though he has survived scandals before.
