Sen. Bob Menendez's resignation takes effect
NEW JERSEY - The resignation of Sen. Bob Menendez went into effect Tuesday.
A jury convicted him on federal bribery charges last month.
Menendez was found guilty of accepting bribes of gold and cash, and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government.
Menendez sent a letter to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy after the conviction, signaling his intention to resign.
Menendez also ended his independent bid for re-election last Friday.
He plans to appeal his conviction, and appeared to take a step in that direction by filing a 30-page motion asking a Manhattan judge to throw out the guilty verdict. The motion argues his prosecution was "nothing if not unprecedented and high profile. If sustained on such a surprisingly thin reed of evidence, these convictions will make terrible, dangerous law. All of Senator Menendez's convictions must be reversed."
Menendez defense argues his conviction should be vacated "because the government failed to prove any of the elements of the alleged quid pro quo."
Who will replace Bob Menendez?
Murphy tapped George Helmy to succeed Menendez until the November election. Helmy is the longest-serving gubernatorial chief of staff New Jersey state history, having served under Murphy for four and a half years.
Helmy's term as Menendez's successor will commence when the Senate returns in September, and will expire on Jan. 3, 2025. Democrat Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw are vying for the seat.