Sen. Menendez tells allies he's willing to resign after guilty verdict: Report

It took long enough, but it looks like Congress will soon have one fewer corrupt politician within its ranks.

According to NBC News, after tremendous pressure from the highest echelons of the Democratic Party, Sen. Bob Menendez has reportedly told his colleagues that he will resign in the wake of being found guilty on all the corruption charges he faced.

Two people familiar with conversations had by the senator with his allies confirmed the news to NBC News.

For months, ever since he was indicted on a number of bribery-related charges along with his wife and a business partner, Menendez refused a growing number of calls for his resignation.

In recent days, some of his Democratic colleagues have even threatened to move to expel him from the upper chamber, which would not only be humiliating for him, but also for the rest of the Democratic-controlled Senate.

NBC News reported:

Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were charged in September with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, according to the initial indictment against him.

At one point, even New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) called for the senator to resign or be expelled.

The governor announced that he is ready to appoint someone to replace Menendez to finish out his term. Several candidates are already eyeing up the ideda of running to fill his potentially vacant position.

🚨Breaking News: New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez will resign from the Senate after being found guilty on federal corruption charges.

Via: NBC pic.twitter.com/UajspNjzIL

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) July 17, 2024

NBC News noted:

Among those who urged him to resign were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; and Menendez's friend and fellow Democratic senator from New Jersey, Cory Booker.

Schumer didn't threaten expulsion but made it clear that he believes in light of the guilty verdict, Menendez should do the right thing and call it quits.

"In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign," Schumer's statement read.

In late-breaking news, after reports emerged that he signaled to his allies that he would resign, Menendez seemingly denied that he had already resigned or planned to, causing some confusion in the reporting on the issue.

Only time will tell if he steps down on his own or forces his colleagues to expel him from the Senate. Either way, his career is cooked.