'Guilty Verdict' US New Jersey Federal Senator Decides to Resign (Summary)

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (New Jersey), a Democrat who was found guilty on bribery charges, has informed his close aides of his intention to resign, NBC News reported on the 17th (local time), citing sources.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to sources, Menendez made this decision after the Manhattan federal court jury found him guilty on all 16 criminal charges, including bribery, yesterday afternoon, amid increasing pressure within his party to resign from his congressional seat.

Menendez, who was first elected as a local councilor in the mid-1980s and later served as mayor and in the U.S. House of Representatives before entering the Senate, has held the Democratic U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey for nearly 20 years. Despite mounting calls within his party to step down following his indictment last year, he maintained his innocence and remained in office.

Menendez, who announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming November Senate election, had planned to launch his campaign in earnest if acquitted, but he is now expected to step down soon. Senator Chuck Schumer stated yesterday, "Following the guilty verdict, Menendez must do the right thing for the voters, the Senate, and our country by resigning."

Prosecutors had previously indicted Menendez and his wife in September last year on charges including bribery and conspiracy to extort by impersonating official authority. Menendez was accused of using his official position to provide diplomatic information to businessmen in exchange for bribes such as cash, gold bars, luxury vehicles, and having businessmen cover part of his mortgage payments.

If Menendez resigns from the Senate, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint an interim senator to serve the remainder of the term until January next year.

The New Jersey U.S. Senate seat long held by Menendez is currently being contested by Democrat Congressman Andy Kim, the first Korean-American to run for the U.S. Senate, and Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.