OAN Staff Abril Elfi
12:48 PM – Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Senator Bob Menendez is reportedly set to resign from his seat in the U.S. Senate on August 20th following his conviction on federal corruption charges.
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A New Jersey Globe journalist, who cited three sources familiar with the plans, posted the decision on X (Twitter), saying that a letter of resignation could come as early as today, Tuesday, July 23rd.
Governor Phil Murphy (D-Mass.) must now appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, which is set to end on January 3rd, 2025.
According to reports, possible candidates to take over are First Lady Tammy Murphy, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, former Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, and U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas.
Meanwhile, representative Andy Kim (D-N.J.), the Democrat nominee for Menendez’s (D-N.J.) seat in the fall general election, said he would accept a Senate appointment if asked.
With the Senate in recess from August 5th to September 6th, Murphy will have until the first week of September to make his decision. That chosen individual would be a U.S. Senator for four months.
Menendez will also have the opportunity to deliver a farewell speech from the Senate floor between now and his scheduled resignation. Additionally, he will be able to vote on bills and nominations until his resignation is formally announced.
On July 16th, Menendez was found guilty on all 16 charges, which include:
- 3 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Bribery
- 4 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud
- 4 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Extortion
- 3 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice
- 2 counts of Conspiracy For a Public Official to Act as a Foreign Agent
The indictment stated that in August of 2021, Menendez sent a press release in which he praised the Qatari government, sending the text message: “You might want to send it to them. I am just about to release.”
The following month, his accomplice Fred Daibes texted Menendez pictures of expensive watches that reportedly costed up to $23,990, after he had attended a private event in Manhattan hosted by the Qatari government.
Two days later, Menendez texted Daibes a message with a website link that tracked a resolution in the Senate that supported Qatar.
According to the indictment, in January 2022, the senator messaged the Qatari investor ahead of his meeting with Daibes to discuss potential investments, saying: “I understand my friend is going to visit with you on the 15th of the month. I hope that this will result in the favorable and mutually beneficial agreement that you have been both engaged in discussing.”
In May, the Qatari official gave four tickets to the 2022 Formula One Grand Prix to a close relative of Nadine Menendez, at the senator’s request.
The Qatari investment fund signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Daibes’s company that same month, after a meeting between the senator, Daibes, and the two Qatari officials. Later, the indictment stated that Daibes “gave Menendez a gold bar.”
The Qatari Investment Company officially joined Daibes last year by investing tens of millions of dollars.
The senator was found guilty of failing to disclose this information on his financial forms. There was no mention of the gifts, gold bars, and race tickets that he received from Qatar and Daibes.
Menendez is now set to be sentenced on October 29th. However, he maintains his innocence and says that he will appeal his verdict.
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