Senator Bob Menendez, whose current term has been overshadowed by an ethics scandal, will not pursue reelection as a Democrat, suggesting a possible independent run.
In a video statement released Thursday, the embattled lawmaker from New Jersey said he won’t be filing in his state’s Democratic primary and may choose an independent route. Two Democrats in the state, Representative Andy Kim and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, are looking to take Menendez’ seat.
Menendez, who faces federal bribery charges, has received mounting pressure from Republicans and Democrats to resign. Senator John Fetterman was among Democratic colleagues loudly urging his removal from office. Thirty-one Democratic senators issued statements saying Menendez should step down. Menendez has made clear repeatedly that he will never resign, both in a public press conference and in a closed-door meeting with fellow Senate Democrats. However, Menendez stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee amid the drama.
“I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and will allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election,” Menendez said.
The senator was also hit with an indictment accusing him of functioning as an agent for the Egyptian government. The Department of Justice alleged Menendez “provided sensitive, non-public U.S. government information to Egyptian officials and otherwise took steps to secretly aid the Government of Egypt.” In October, Menendez pleaded not guilty to that indictment.
Still insisting in the video that he has been wrongly accused, Menendez stated Thursday that it is no longer politically prudent for him to launch a reelection campaign under the Democratic umbrella.
“Unfortunately, the present accusations I am facing — of which I am innocent and will prove so — will not allow me to have that type of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it a cornerstone of their campaign,” he said.
Earlier this month, Menendez was indicted for a fourth time on more than a dozen new charges related to his involvement in a years-long bribery scheme with the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez previously faced four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. The new charges included these counts.