Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is calling on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign, saying in a statement that the federal bribery charges unveiled on Friday against his fellow New Jersey Democrat contain ”shocking allegations of corruption and specific, disturbing details of wrongdoing.”

       Booker’s statement came Tuesday as a growing number of Democratic senators -- at least 11 so far -- are calling for the three-term senator to step aside. He has firmly rejected that idea.

       Menendez, former chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife Nadine were indicted on Friday, accused of using his position to aid the authoritarian government of Egypt and to pressure federal prosecutors to drop a case against a friend. The three-count indictment says they were paid bribes — gold bars, a luxury car and cash — by three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for corrupt acts.

       Menendez has so far been defiant in the face of criticism from his colleagues, as he did after he first faced federal bribery charges eight years ago -- a case that ended with a deadlocked jury. He has again stepped down as chairman of the Foreign Affairs panel, as per Senate Democratic caucus rules, but has otherwise made clear that he’s not going anywhere.

       “I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet, but as I have stated throughout this whole process, I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator,” Menendez said on Monday at Hudson County Community College’s campus in Union City, where he grew up.

       Related Job alert! Paris Olympics are looking for cooks, security guards and others to fill 16,000 vacancies Latino charitable giving rates drop sharply — but that’s not the full story Belarus' top diplomat says he can't imagine his nation entering the war in Ukraine alongside Russia

       The calls for his resignation are in sharp contrast, though, to his first case. And Booker’s call is especially significant in the clubby Senate, where home state colleagues tend to stay away from public criticism of each other. It also puts increased pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders who have so far stopped short of recommending that Menendez step down.

       Booker said it is a “mistake” for Menendez to say that stepping down would be unfair as the case has not been tried.

       ″The details of the allegations against Senator Menendez are of such a nature that the faith and trust of New Jerseyans as well as those he must work with in order to be effective have been shaken to the core,” Booker said, adding that he believes resigning would not be an admission of guilt.

       Also calling for Menendez to step down on Monday were Democratic Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jon Tester of Montana, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Michael Bennet of Colorado and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Peter Welch of Vermont and Sherrod Brown of Ohio all called for his resignation over the weekend.

       Other Democratic leaders, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, have also called for Menendez’s resignation.

       More about AP Cory Booker Democratic New Jersey Washington John Fetterman Egypt Phil Murphy Tammy Baldwin Chuck Schumer Wisconsin Pennsylvania New Mexico Colorado Nevada Montana Jon Tester Vermont Sherrod Brown Ohio

       1/ 1Democratic Sen. Cory Booker calls on New Jersey colleague Menendez to resign

       Democratic Sen. Cory Booker calls on New Jersey colleague Menendez to resign Menendez Bribery

       Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

       Promoted stories

       株式会社ファーマフーズ

       【アマゾンで爆売れ】明治薬品が开発した简単に歯を白くする方法【初回约52%OFF】明治薬品监修の歯磨き粉がアマゾン爆売れで大反响株式会社ファーマフーズ| Sponsored Sponsored

       详细

       Undo

       investing.com

       Greta Thunberg's Car Shocks The World, Proof In Picturesinvesting.com| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       StreetInsider.com

       Airports Tell Passengers To Always Carry A Bread ClipStreetInsider.com| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in