Dem Senator Bob Menendez Resigns Following Bribery Conviction

Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez resigned his seat in the Senate on Tuesday, according to multiple outlets.

The Senate Democrat announced his resignation following his conviction in a bribery scheme involving three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government. Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signaled that he will replace Menendez with George S. Helmy, a healthcare executive and his former chief of staff.

A federal court in July found Menendez guilty of taking actions that would benefit the Egyptian government in exchange for bribes, including writing a letter to his fellow senators advocating for sending military aid to Egypt and providing the foreign government with personnel information related to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, The Associated Press reported. Federal authorities found over $100,000 worth of gold bars and $480,000 in cash hidden in the now-former senator’s home.

Menendez has maintained his innocence, saying after his conviction that he was “deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision” and that he would be moving forward with an appeal. “I have never been anything but a patriot of my country, and I have never, ever been a foreign agent,” Menendez said.

The Democrat’s resignation comes after sources told