Democratic US Senator Bob Menendez has refuted early reports suggesting he told allies he was considering resigning from Congress following his conviction on corruption charges.
"I can tell you that I have not resigned nor have I spoken to any so-called allies... Seems to me that there is an effort to try to force me into a statement," Menendez told CBS News late Wednesday evening.
Menendez, who has represented New Jersey in Congress for over 30 years—first as a House Representative from 1993 to 2006 and then as a Senator—was responding to an NBC News report earlier in the day stating he was preparing to resign.
A New York jury found the 70-year-old former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee guilty on Monday of 16 federal charges. These charges included accepting bribes of cash, gold, and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen, as well as acting as an overseas agent for Egypt.
Following the verdict, prominent Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, urged Menendez to step down.
"In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign," Schumer said in a statement.
Murphy, who was one of the first Democrats to call for Menendez's resignation, will appoint a senator to temporarily fill Menendez's seat, which expires in January 2025, should Menendez resign.
Despite months of defiance, NBC reported that Menendez was ready to relinquish his seat, citing two unnamed sources familiar with his intentions.
After the guilty verdict, Menendez told reporters: "I have never violated my public oath. I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country." This statement echoed his long-standing position since his initial indictment in September last year.
Menendez was on trial alongside New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were also convicted of all charges. All three had pleaded not guilty. Another businessman pleaded guilty before the trial and testified against Menendez and the other defendants.
Menendez's wife, Nadine, was also charged, although her trial has been postponed indefinitely as she undergoes treatment for advanced-stage breast cancer.
This article was amended on 17 July 2024. An earlier version incorrectly stated that Menendez was going to resign.
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