‘Spartacus’ Cory Booker Calls for Menendez to Resign

Calls are growing for Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to step down as he and his wife are facing federal corruption charges.

On Tuesday, fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) joined the list of lawmakers urging Menendez to resign.

In a lengthy statement, Cooker praised his colleague, saying, “For nearly a decade, I’ve worked in the Senate alongside Senator Menendez. As New Jersey’s junior Senator, I imagine that I’ve had more professional experiences with him than most others, and I’ve witnessed his extraordinary work and boundless work ethic.”

“I’ve consistently found Senator Menendez to be intellectually gifted, tough, passionate, and deeply empathic. We have developed a working relationship and a friendship that I value and believe has furthered our effectiveness in serving New Jersey,” he continued.

However, he stated the indictment against Menendez is “shocking” and it is “hard to reconcile” the allegations with “the person I know.”

Booker noted a jury would determine whether he is guilty, then added, “There is, however, another higher standard for public officials, one not of criminal law but of common ideals. As Senators, we operate in the public trust. That trust is essential to our ability to do our work and perform our duties for our constituents.”

Finally, he stated, “Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost. Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case he must do so again. I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”

The statement comes days after Menendez was accused by federal prosecutors of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in bribes between 2018 and 2022.

Menendez has