On Friday, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey was indicted on federal corruption charges, prompting calls for his resignation from fellow Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The charges allege that Menendez engaged in a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen, who allegedly provided him and his wife with bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to the Department of Justice, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and benefit Egypt. If convicted, Menendez could face up to 45 years in prison for charges including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and extortion under color of official right.
Menendez, who has served in Congress since 1993, has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the charges are racially motivated. In a statement released last week, he said, “I simply cannot accept that there is a campaign to bring down a Latino senator.”
However, Ocasio-Cortez, known for her progressive views and vocal criticism of both Republicans and Democrats, called on Menendez to resign during her appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan. “Consistency matters,” she said. “It shouldn’t matter whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat. The details in this indictment are extremely serious and involve the nature of all of our seats in Congress.”
Brennan asked Ocasio-Cortez about Menendez’s claims of racial bias, to which she responded, “While, you know, as a Latina, there are absolutely ways in which there is systemic bias. But I think what is here in this indictment is quite clear. And I believe it’s in the best interest to maintain the integrity of the seat.”
BREAKING: @AOC calls on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign following his indictment on federal bribery charges, “to maintain the integrity of the seat.”
“It shouldn’t matter whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat. The details in this indictment are extremely serious.” pic.twitter.com/QAe2H0qmJi
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 24, 2023
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that she believes everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but also stressed the need to maintain the dignity and integrity of Congress. “I do believe it is in the best interests,” she said.
The indictment against Menendez also stems from a previous trial in which he was accused of accepting lavish gifts from a wealthy donor. That trial ended in a mistrial last year, and prosecutors announced in January that they would not seek to retry Menendez.
In light of the recent charges, Ocasio-Cortez’s call for Menendez’s resignation signals a shift in the political climate, as more and more individuals in positions of power are being held accountable for their actions. Whether Menendez will heed the call to resign remains to be seen, but the pressure is mounting for him to step down and maintain the integrity of his seat in Congress.
