NEWARK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Sen. Cory Booker broke his silence Tuesday and called on fellow Sen. Bob Menendez to resign over federal bribery charges.
The two Democratic senators have represented New Jersey together for nearly a decade, and Booker stood by Menendez as he battled corruption charges in a federal case that ended in a mistrial in 2017.
In a lengthy statement Tuesday, Booker again defended Menendez as a person who is "intellectually gifted, tough, passionate, and deeply empathic," but he said there's "another higher standard for public officials, one not of criminal law but of common ideals." Read Booker's full statement below.
"The details of the allegations against Senator Menendez are of such a nature that the faith and trust of New Jerseyans as well as those he must work with in order to be effective have been shaken to the core," Booker said.
The junior senator said he believes it's a "mistake" Menendez has refused to resign as the case plays out.
"Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost," Booker said. "Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case he must do so again."
Booker joins a growing list of Democratic lawmakers at the local and national level who've called for Menendez's resignation, including Gov. Phil Murphy and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.
Menendez has denied the allegations against him and his wife, and he said Monday that "when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator."
Booker's full statement:
“For nearly a decade, I’ve worked in the Senate alongside Senator Menendez. As New Jersey’s junior Senator, I imagine that I’ve had more professional experiences with him than most others, and I’ve witnessed his extraordinary work and boundless work ethic. I’ve consistently found Senator Menendez to be intellectually gifted, tough, passionate, and deeply empathic. We have developed a working relationship and a friendship that I value and believe has furthered our effectiveness in serving New Jersey.
“Senator Menendez is again facing a federal indictment, one that contains shocking allegations of corruption and specific, disturbing details of wrongdoing. I’ve found the allegations hard to reconcile with the person I know.
“It is not surprising to me that Senator Menendez is again determined to mount a vigorous defense. And I still believe he, like anyone involved with our criminal justice system, deserves our presumption of innocence until proven guilty. A jury of his peers will make the ultimate decision as to whether he is criminally guilty.
“There is, however, another higher standard for public officials, one not of criminal law but of common ideals. As Senators, we operate in the public trust. That trust is essential to our ability to do our work and perform our duties for our constituents.
“The details of the allegations against Senator Menendez are of such a nature that the faith and trust of New Jerseyans as well as those he must work with in order to be effective have been shaken to the core.
“As Senator Menendez prepares to mount his legal defense, he has stated that he will not resign. Senator Menendez fiercely asserts his innocence and it is therefore understandable that he believes stepping down is patently unfair. But I believe this is a mistake.
“Stepping down is not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgment that holding public office often demands tremendous sacrifices at great personal cost. Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. And in this case he must do so again. I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”