Senator Bob Menendez Refuses to Resign Despite Federal Corruption Charges, Creating Political Headache for Democrats in Washington

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is facing the biggest crisis of his career, with federal corruption charges and calls for his resignation from fellow Democrats. Menendez pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud and extortion in a Manhattan federal court Wednesday. Despite the calls for his resignation, Menendez is refusing to step down.

This has created a political headache for Democrats in Washington, as Menendez has been the top Democrat on the powerful Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, wielding tremendous influence over Congress, the White House and government agencies. Democrats have pointed to President Trump’s historic four indictments as a reason why voters should stick with Democrats in the upcoming election.

One Democratic congressional aide told HuffPost that the foreign policy implications of Menendez’s resignation are “extremely significant,” and would involve big changes to the Democratic Party’s approach to international relations and to Washington’s national security establishment.

When asked why he won’t resign, Menendez told reporters Tuesday night that he was “visibly frustrated.” He has not yet commented on the situation since his court appearance Wednesday. It is almost certain that Menendez will lose his position on the Foreign Relations Committee, and it remains to be seen how his refusal to resign will affect the Democratic Party and the upcoming election.