Schumer calls on Menendez to resign following conviction

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign moments after a jury found him guilty of all the public corruption charges he faced.

"In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign," Schumer said in a brief statement.

Schumer had resisted calling for the New Jersey Democrat to resign for months. A majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus had already called on Menendez to step down, including other members of leadership like Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and caucus No. 3 Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who helms Senate Democrats' campaign arm, had done the same.

Multiple New Jersey lawmakers had also already called on Menendez to step aside, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Gov. Phil Murphy (D).