U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), arrives at Federal Court, for his bribery trial in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in New York City, U.S., May 21, 2024Â
David Dee Delgado | Reuters
Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat convicted last week in a federal bribery case, will resign his Senate seat effective Aug. 20, NBC News reports.
Menendez said last Wednesday that that he would quit the Senate as a result of his criminal conviction, but he had not given a date. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who is also a Democrat, will appoint a senator to fill out the brief remainder of Mendendez’s term.
Menendez was found guilty of all 16 criminal counts on July 17 in Manhattan federal court in a case where he was accused of accepting bribes, which included cash and gold bars, in exchange for taking actions that benefited the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Two New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were convicted in the same trial of charges related to bribing Menendez. A third defendant, Jose Uribe, previously pleaded guilty in the case.
Menendez is due to be sentenced on Oct. 29. He has said he will appeal his conviction.
His wife Nadine Menendez, who also was criminally charged in the case, had her trial severed from that of the senator and the other defendants. Nadine’s trial was delayed indefinitely as a result of surgery following a diagnosis of breast cancer.