Senator Bob Menendez and his spouse Nadine Menendez (not seen) depart a Manhattan courtroom after they had been arraigned on federal bribery charges in New York, September 27, 2023.
Fatih Aktas | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey plans to communicate privately Thursday to fellow Senate Democrats as greater than half of their 51-member caucus has referred to as for his resignation over bribery allegations.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has but to ask Menendez to give up.
But Schumer advised reporters Wednesday, “We’ll see what occurs after” Menendez speaks to the caucus at a closed-door lunch on Capitol Hill.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who was the primary Democrat to name for Menedez to step down, in a social media submit on Thursday wrote, “Unless Senator Menendez is coming right now to resign, I’m not focused on listening to his ‘rationalization’ for gold bars stashed in a mattress.”
Menendez, 69, final week was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and different charges along with his spouse, Nadine, and three New Jersey businessmen.
The couple pleaded not responsible Wednesday to the charges in federal courtroom in Manhattan.
Prosecutors have mentioned a raid on their home final 12 months discovered gold bars, tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in money, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible that they allegedly obtained in trade for Menendez utilizing his affect to attempt to assist the three males.
The senator has repeatedly mentioned he doesn’t plan to resign.
Twenty-nine Democratic senators, and Vermont impartial Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with them, have urged Menedez to step down.
Among them are Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate majority whip, as effectively third-ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Patty Murray, the Senate President Pro Tempore.
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