© Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Syndication: The Record
(Newark, NJ) — There are conflicting reports over whether New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez will resign following his conviction on federal corruption charges this week. Sources tell NBC News that he told close allies that he plans on stepping down. However, Menendez is rejecting that report, telling CBS 2 that he has not spoken with any so called allies and that it seems to him that there is an effort to try to force him into a statement. There have been widespread calls from Democrats for Menendez to step down and threats to expel him. Menendez plans on appealing his guilty verdict.
The veteran Democrat accepted cash and gold bars in exchange for official favors involving two New Jersey businessmen. Menendez was found guilty of bribery, extortion, and wire fraud, and could face decades in prison when he’s sentenced on October 29th. The charges included the senator acting as an agent for Egypt and Qatar [[ cutter ]]. His wife, Nadine, was standing trial on the same charges, but that’s been delayed indefinitely while she recovers from breast cancer surgery.
