{"id":2042685,"date":"2023-09-23T19:04:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T23:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/menendez-steps-down-from-senate-foreign-relations-committee-refuses-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T19:06:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T23:06:13","slug":"menendez-steps-down-from-senate-foreign-relations-committee-refuses-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/menendez-steps-down-from-senate-foreign-relations-committee-refuses-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Menendez resigns from Senate Foreign Relations Committee, refuses to step down despite bribery charges."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmenendez-steps-down-from-senate-foreign-relations-committee-refuses-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042685&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>Despite \u2063mounting calls from fellow Democrats for him to do so over an \u2062indictment\u200b on bribery\u200c charges, Sen. Bob \u200bMenendez (D-N.J.) has made it clear that\u2063 he will not resign from the Senate. However, he has decided \u2064to step aside from his leading role on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.<\/p>\n<p>Amid \u200cthe increasing pressure for his\u200d resignation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on Friday that Mr. Menendez will temporarily step aside from his chairmanship on the Senate Foreign Relations panel.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Mr. Schumer said,\u2062 &#8220;Bob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and\u2062 is always fighting hard for the people\u200b of New Jersey. He has a right to due process\u2063 and a fair \u200btrial. Senator Menendez has \u2064rightly decided\u200c to step down temporarily from his position as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee until\u200b the matter has been resolved.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/us-senator-indicted-on-bribery-charges-prosecutors-5496691?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>US Senator Indicted on Bribery Charges: \u200bProsecutors<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/22\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/us-senator-indicted-on-bribery-charges-prosecutors-5496691?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/white-house-refuses-to-comment-on-sen-menendez-bribery-charges-5496970?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>White\u200d House Refuses to Comment on\u2063 Sen. Menendez Bribery Charges<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/22\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/white-house-refuses-to-comment-on-sen-menendez-bribery-charges-5496970?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In response to the calls for his resignation, Mr. Menendez defended his decision to remain \u2062in office.<\/p>\n<p>He stated, &#8220;Those who believe in justice believe \u200bin innocence until proven guilty. I will\u200b continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the\u200c same success I&#8217;ve had for the past five decades. \u200bIt is not lost\u2064 on me how\u2062 quickly some\u2063 are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out \u200cof his seat. I am not going anywhere.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The U.S. \u200cAttorney for the Southern District of New York has \u200bfiled charges against\u2063 Mr. Menendez and his wife,\u200c including conspiracy\u200c to commit bribery, conspiracy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">commit honest services fraud<\/a>, and conspiracy to commit\u2064 extortion under color of official right.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Mr. Menendez has described the allegations as\u200d part of a &#8220;smear campaign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Calls for\u2064 Resignation<\/h2>\n<p>Numerous prominent New Jersey\u2062 Democrats, including Gov. Phil Murphy, State Assembly Speaker Craig \u200cCoughlin, and State \u2062Democratic Party Chair LeRoy Jones, have called\u200d for Mr. \u200cMenendez&#8217;s immediate resignation.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Gov.\u2062 Murphy described the \u2062allegations as &#8220;deeply \u200cdisturbing&#8221; and asserted that they have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-pulls-65-pending-trump-executive-orders\/\" title=\"Biden Pulls 65 Pending Trump Executive Orders\">national security implications<\/a> and compromise the integrity of the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n<p>He stated, &#8220;Under our legal system, Senator Menendez\u200b and the other\u200c defendants have not been found guilty and will have \u200dthe ability \u200dto present evidence disputing these charges, and we\u200c must respect the process. \u200cHowever, the alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people \u200bof our state. Therefore,\u200c I \u2063am\u2062 calling for his immediate resignation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), \u2062a member of\u2064 House \u200cDemocratic leadership, has\u2062 also called for the senator to resign, expressing disappointment\u2062 and urging Senate leadership to\u2062 take action.<\/p>\n<p>According to the charging documents, \u200bMr. Menendez and \u200bhis wife allegedly accepted hundreds of\u200d thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold, and mortgage\u2062 payments, in exchange for using Mr. Menendez&#8217;s\u200d political influence to benefit \u2063New Jersey businessmen and the \u2064government of Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>Cash and gold \u200dwere seized during a search of Mr. Menendez&#8217;s home in June last year.<\/p>\n<p>The indictment \u200dalleges that Mr. Menendez leveraged his official position to protect and \u200benrich the businessmen and Egypt, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/menendez-steps-down-from-senate-foreign-relations-committee-refuses-to-resign-amid-bribery-charges\/\" title=\"Menendez resigns from Senate Foreign Relations Committee, refuses to step down despite bribery charges.\">receives substantial financial\u2062 support<\/a> from\u200c the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p>The senator is accused of providing\u2062 non-public, sensitive information to the\u200b government \u2062of Egypt \u200band pressuring a U.S. Department of Agriculture official to protect a \u2062business monopoly held \u2063by one of \u2062the businessmen.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the charges\u2063 claim that Mr. Menendez promised to facilitate military equipment sales to Egypt \u2063in exchange for the businessmen placing his wife on their company&#8217;s payroll, a move that allegedly \u2062occurred \u200bafter Egyptian officials raised concerns about\u2062 stalled funding for military aid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<em>Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Is it fair for Senator Menendez to continue \u2062serving in his position while facing these\u200b charges, or should he step down to focus\u200b on addressing the allegations<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Troubling&#8221;\u2063 and stated, &#8220;No one is above the law, and these charges are \u200dserious and deeply concerning. Senator\u2062 Menendez should step down from his position in order to focus on addressing these allegations.&#8221; Speaker Coughlin echoed this sentiment, \u200dsaying, &#8220;Given the seriousness\u2063 of\u200c these charges, it \u200dis in the best interest of the state and the Democratic \u2062Party for Senator Menendez to\u2064 resign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic Party\u2063 Chair, LeRoy Jones, emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in elected officials, stating, &#8220;Public officials\u2063 must be held\u200d to the highest \u200dstandard of integrity. Senator Menendez&#8217;s\u200d decision to remain \u200bin office while facing these charges undermines the public&#8217;s confidence\u200c in our\u2062 government.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Calls for Senator Menendez&#8217;s resignation have also come from outside of his\u200b own party. Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeted, &#8220;The allegations against Senator Menendez are\u200d extremely serious and should not be\u200c taken lightly. He should \u2062immediately resign and allow for a fair and impartial investigation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The \u200dallegations against Senator Menendez stem from his relationship with Dr. Salomon Melgen, \u2064a wealthy \u200ceye doctor from Florida.\u2064 Prosecutors allege that Senator Menendez\u200d used his position to benefit \u200bMelgen in exchange for gifts, campaign contributions, and luxury vacations. The indictment\u2062 also alleges that Senator Menendez helped obtain visas for individuals, including Melgen&#8217;s girlfriends, in exchange \u2062for favors.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Menendez has repeatedly denied the charges and insisted on his \u2062innocence. In a\u2062 press conference, he stated, &#8220;I am outraged that prosecutors at the Justice Department would bring these charges \u200cbased on false allegations. I have always acted in accordance with \u2062the\u2063 law and in the best interest of my constituents.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The trial\u200d is expected to begin in the coming months, and Senator Menendez has vowed to fight the \u2064charges and\u2062 prove his innocence. \u2062In the meantime, he has voluntarily stepped aside\u2062 from his role as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations\u2062 Committee, showing a willingness to cooperate with the investigation and protect the integrity of the committee&#8217;s work.<\/p>\n<p>The case against Senator Menendez \u200braises important questions about the ethical conduct of elected officials and the trust placed in them by the public.\u200b It is crucial that these allegations are \u2062thoroughly investigated and that justice \u2062is served. The\u200d outcome of\u2063 this trial will not only determine Senator Menendez&#8217;s future but also have broader implications for the \u2062public&#8217;s\u2063 perception of the political system and its commitment to accountability.<\/p>\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-councilwoman-refuses-to-resign-after-alleged-hit-and-run-caught-on-video\/\" title=\"Hit and Run, You need to resign, Nah, Im a Democrat\">legal process unfolds<\/a>, it is essential for the principles\u200b of due process and the presumption of innocence to be upheld. Senator Menendez has the right to defend himself in a court of \u2063law and present his side of the story. Until a \u2062verdict is reached, it is important to avoid rushing to judgments and allow the justice system to run its course.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of the outcome, this case serves as \u200da reminder of the importance\u200c of maintaining transparency, integrity, and accountability in our elected officials. \u2064It \u2063is\u2062 essential that the public&#8217;s trust in \u200ctheir elected representatives is not compromised,\u2064 and that \u2062those who violate the public&#8217;s trust are held accountable.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Senator Menendez&#8217;s decision not to resign from his Senate position despite facing bribery charges has sparked a debate within the Democratic Party and beyond. While \u200dsome have called for his immediate resignation, others have emphasized the need for due process and a fair trial. As the legal proceedings continue, it is essential to uphold the principles of\u200c justice and allow the evidence to determine the verdict. The outcome \u200bof this case will undoubtedly \u2062have implications for the future of \u2064Senator Menendez&#8217;s career\u200d and the public&#8217;s perception of our political system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) refuses to resign from the Senate despite increasing pressure from fellow Democrats over bribery charges. However, he has relinquished his position on the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senate Majority Leader also urged him to step down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":618,"featured_media":2042686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/618"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}