AOC says Menendez should resign

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation that Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) should resign from the upper chamber over allegations of bribery that have led to the indictment of him and his wife along with three business associates.

Host Margaret Brennan asked Ocasio-Cortez about the matter, noting that she had called for Rep. George Santos (NY), a Republican, to resign over ethical lapses.

She responded:

Well, you know, I think it’s- the situation is quite unfortunate, but I do believe that it is in the best interest for Senator Menendez to resign in this moment. As you mentioned, consistency matters. It shouldn’t matter whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat. The details in this indictment are extremely serious. They involve the nature of, of not just his but all of our seats in Congress.

Brennan also asked her about Menendez's implication that he was being investigated and charged because he was a Latino.

"While you know, as a Latina, there are absolutely ways in which there is systemic bias," Ocasio-Cortez said. "But I think what is here in this indictment is quite clear. And- and I believe is in the best interest to maintain the integrity of the seat."

She emphasized that Menendez was innocent until proven guilty but said that "when it comes to the political and the standard of dignity that we want to maintain for the public in the United States Congress," his resignation would be for the best.