By Laura Dolan, Lauren Fox and Clare Foran | CNN (CNN) — Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will resign his seat effective August 20, according to multiple sources familiar with the plan. In July, Menendez was convicted of 16 counts — including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent — for his role in a yearslong bribery scheme.
Tuesday’s developments mark a major moment in the New Jersey senator’s dramatic political downfall and will bring an end to his scandal-plagued tenure in the Senate. Menendez had faced mounting pressure from within his own party to resign or face the threat of expulsion from the Senate. New Jersey Gov.
Phil Murphy, a Democrat who has been among those calling for Menendez to resign, has previously said that he will make a temporary appointment to the seat if a vacancy arises. Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw are set to face off in the November general election for the seat.
Menendez, who had been up for reelection this year, had previously filed to run as an independent. Menendez did not immediately say whether he still intends to run as an independent. Menendez, who faces sentencing on October 29, has maintained he never violated his public oath and has said he has never been anything “but a patriot of my country and for my country.
” “Obviously, I’m deeply, deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision,” Menendez told reporters outside the courtroom after he w.