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A growing chorus of prominent Democrats\u2014including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy<\/strong>\u2014are calling on Senator Bob Menendez<\/strong> (D-NJ) to resign in the wake of Friday\u2019s shocking indictment in Manhattan federal court, despite his insistence that he\u2019s \u201cnot going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n The indictment is chock full of lurid details<\/a>, including allegations that Menendez accepted envelopes stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars in exchange for using his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the Egyptian government.<\/p>\n \u201cThe allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing. These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,\u201d Murphy said<\/a> in a statement Friday. \u201cThe alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation.\u201d<\/p>\n It is the senator\u2019s second criminal indictment in eight years. His previous corruption charges filed in 2015 were dismissed after a jury could not reach a verdict in 2017.<\/p>\n Due to Senate bylaws, Menendez was forced to step down from leadership since he was charged with a felony but has actively rejected calls for his resignation.<\/p>\n \u201cFor years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave,\u201d the 69-year-old said in a statement. \u201cSince this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources \u2026 It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to Murphy, five Democratic representatives have called for the senator\u2019s resignation as of Saturday morning, including three\u2014Andy Kim<\/strong>, Mikie Sherrill<\/strong>, and Donald Norcross<\/strong>\u2014widely expected to run for Menendez\u2019s Senate seat in 2024. New Jersey Globe<\/em> editor David Wildstein<\/strong> noted<\/a> Saturday morning that Norcross\u2019s call for resignation is especially indicative of the mood among Democrats, as Menendez \u201chas been close to the Norcross family for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n Several state and local officials have also joined the chorus. Both New Jersey State Senate President Nick Scutari<\/strong> and State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin<\/strong> called on Menendez to resign, with Coughlin arguing that the charges \u201cgo against everything we should believe as public servants.\u201d \u201cWe are given the public\u2019s trust, and once that trust is broken, we cannot continue,\u201d he added. New Jersey Democratic Party Chair LeRoy Jones<\/strong> cited next year\u2019s election as the main reason for Menendez to step down.<\/p>\n Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer<\/strong> of New York, however, declined to say whether his colleague should resign. \u201cBob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey,\u201d Schumer said<\/a> in a brief statement. \u201cHe has a right to due process and a fair trial.\u201d<\/p>\n And Menendez\u2019s fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker<\/strong> has also been silent so far about the indictments. As a young politician, Booker was mentored by Menendez, whom he has called<\/a> \u201c \u201cone of the greatest advocates for justice on the planet Earth.\u201d Booker also testified at Menendez\u2019s 2017 trial, where he called<\/a> Menendez \u201ctrustworthy and honest.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n