Why the 'law-and-order team' won’t call on Sen. Menendez to resign: report

17 July 2024

Even before US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was convicted on corruption charges earlier this week, several of his Democratic colleagues called on him to resign.

Following the New Jersey lawmaker's conviction, more of his fellow Democrats have encouraged Menendez to stop aside.

Meanwhile, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) Tuesday Republican National Convention (RNC) declaration that "Republicans are the law-and-order team" — GOP leaders have remained silent.

The Bulwark's Joe Perticone reported on Wednesday that he spoke "with a handful of senators on the floor of the Republican convention and asked them point blank whether they think Menendez should resign."

Sen. Rick Scott (FL) said, "It’s a decision he gets to make and, so, it’ll be a decision he gets to make."

Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) — who's one of the GOP senators vying to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, "I’m gonna leave that to my colleagues on the Democratic side. I mean, the conviction is serious. The fact that I think it was all 16 charges, that’s very serious. But I’m staying out of that."

Perticone asked one GOP leader who asked to remain anonymous "if elected officeholders have a moral obligation to demand a corrupt colleague relinquish his seat, the senator told me."

The Republican replied, "I’m torn on that,' citing past cases in which lawmakers were convicted of crimes but later exonerated."

Perticone's full report is available here.

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