Schumer Breaks Silence, Urges Menendez to Resign After Months of Resistance

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has finally called for Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign following Menendez's conviction on all 16 counts he faced in federal court. The charges include corruption, bribery, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent, and conspiracy, and could result in Menendez, 70, spending the rest of his life behind bars.

“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 stated.

Schumer's call for resignation marks a significant shift after months of resistance, likely aimed at protecting the Democrats' razor-thin majority in the U.S. Senate. At least 30 members of the Democrat caucus, including party leadership, had urged Menendez to resign following his indictment last year.

New Jersey’s other Democrat senator, Cory Booker, echoed Schumer’s sentiments, describing it as “a dark, painful day for the people of New Jersey.” Booker emphasized the breach of trust inherent in Menendez's actions, stating, “When any elected official violates that trust, it is a betrayal of the oath we take to serve the people who’ve elected us. Without that trust, our ability to do our work and perform our duties for our constituents is compromised."

Booker highlighted that Menendez was given due process and that a jury unanimously found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He originally called for Menendez's resignation last fall due to the severity of the allegations and reiterated his stance following the conviction. “Now, with this conviction, the urgency for Senator Menendez to step down and for the governor to appoint a replacement has even more urgency,” Booker said.

The conviction has intensified the pressure on Menendez to resign, as it shakes public trust and hampers the Senate's ability to function effectively. Schumer’s statement signals a unified Democratic front in urging Menendez to do the right thing for the party and the country by stepping down.

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