Kim is among a growing number of lawmakers who have called on Menendez to resign after an indictment unsealed Friday alleges he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including gold bullion, in exchange for influencing business interests. and the Egyptian government.
“After calls to resign, Senator Menendez said, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ As a result, I feel obligated to speak out against him. I didn’t expect this, but New Jersey deserves better. “We cannot compromise the Senate or compromise our integrity,” he said. Kim posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
Kim has represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District, which includes Trenton’s eastern suburbs, since 2019. He won re-election last November by more than 10 percentage points.
Kim is a member of the Congressional Progressive and Asian Pacific American Caucus. He also serves on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.
Kim made headlines following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection after he was photographed cleaning up rubble and debris left behind at the Capitol by rioters who ransacked the building hours earlier. He later donated the suit he was wearing that day to the Smithsonian Institution.
Menendez was first appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2006 to fill the vacancy left by Jon Corzine, who was elected governor of New Jersey. He was re-elected in 2018 with 54% of the vote. Before becoming a senator, Menendez represented New Jersey’s 13th Congressional District.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, were charged Friday with crimes related to bribery and corruption.
The indictment alleges the couple accepted bribes, including gold, cash and mortgage payments, in exchange for the senator’s influence.
Menendez, 69, temporarily resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Friday, but he has categorically refused to resign from his senatorial position and has stated that he intends to stand for re-election in 2024.
Many New Jersey Democrats quickly called for the senator’s resignation, including Gov. Phil Murphy, who said, “The alleged facts are so serious that they jeopardize Senator Menendez’s ability to effectively represent the people of our state.”
Governor Murphy said he will have to appoint a senator to replace Menendez if he resigns.
Source: La Opinion
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