Schumer Calls on Menendez to Resign After Guilty Verdicts

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

After Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was found guilty on all 16 felony counts against him on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on his colleague to resign.

In a statement following the announcement of the verdict, Schumer said:

In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.

Before Menendez went on trial for federal charges including bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent while a public official, Schumer stood up for Menendez until the evidence was presented, citing Menendez’s right to due process. Back in September 2023, Schumer called Menendez “a dedicated public servant” and resisted the calls for the New Jersey Senator to step down.

About a month after his statement of support, Schumer appeared on CBS This Morning and was asked about Menendez’s legal troubles and asked what it would take to ask for his resignation. He provided a soft answer, telling CBS: “As I’ve said before, the Senate should have certain standards. If you read the indictments, Senator Menendez has gone way, way below those standards.” When pushed further, he responded: “As I said, he has been way, way below those standards, and we’ll see what happens after that.” Schumer also added that he’d had “serious discussions” with Menendez.