The Senate Ethics Committee is considering expulsion of a New Jersey lawmaker, who is under growing pressure to resign beforehand.
The trial of Senator Robert Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, has garnered significant attention due to the accusations of corruption against them. The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York described the case as involving “shocking levels of corruption,” alleging that the Menendezs accepted bribes in the form of cash, gold, and a Mercedes-Benz.
Senator Menendez was recently convicted on all 16 counts of corruption charges, which stemmed from an international bribery scheme. This verdict has further damaged the reputation of the once-powerful lawmaker, who had previously resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following his indictment.
As the trial unfolded, questions arose about Senator Menendez’s future in office. Speculation has swirled about whether he will resign from his position in the Senate. Sources close to him have indicated that he has discussed his options, including the possibility of resignation, with a select group of friends and family members.
With only five months remaining in his current term, Senator Menendez faces a challenging road ahead. Despite the potential for appealing the verdict and seeking to vacate the conviction, he has already lost the trust of his congressional colleagues and the majority of New Jersey voters. A recent poll revealed that 75 percent of respondents believed he was “probably guilty” even before the trial began.
One question that lingers is whether Senator Menendez is daring the Senate to expel him from office. The Senate has not expelled a member since 1862, and historically, many senators facing expulsion have chosen to resign before facing a vote by their peers. This decision may ultimately rest in the hands of Senator Menendez himself as he navigates the aftermath of his corruption conviction.
Source: The NY Times
