Disgraced New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez has left office after five decades in politics after he was recently convicted on bribery and influence-peddling charges.
The 70-year-old was convicted of using his position as a Senator to help win business contracts for foreign nationals and accepted bribes of cash and gold bars for his efforts. Menendez helped one associate to keep a lucrative contract that religiously certified meat that was being shipped to Egypt for sale.
He was also convicted of working on behalf of the Egyptian government in exchange for payments of cash and luxury goods. For example, Menendez ghost wrote a letter to other senators asking them to release military aid to Egypt that had been placed on hold. When the FBI raided Menendez’s home, they found piles of gold bars and almost a half-million-dollars in cash stashed throughout the house, sometimes stuffed inside boots in a closet.
Menendez maintains his innocence and says he plans to appeal, but he told New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy that his last day in office as a senator would be Tuesday, August 20. George Helmy will temporarily occupy Menendez’s senate seat until the results of the November election are certified toward the end of the month. At that point, Helmy will announce the winner and step down.
This makes a big difference to the power balance in the senate, which is currently held by Democrats with a very slim majority. But if historical trends are any indication, a Democrat will likely be elected to Menendez’s seat since no Republicans have won a Senate seat in the Garden State for more than 50 years.
George Helmy worked as Gov. Murphy’s chief of staff from 2019 through 2023. The 44-year-old is an official at one of New Jersey’s largest health networks, RWJBarnabas Health. Helmy also worked in the past for NJ Democrat Senator Cory Booker.
Menendez is serious about appealing his conviction as indicated by the fact that he filed court papers on August 19 asking for an acquittal and a new trial (it is not clear how he could be acquitted after being convicted). He claims prosecutors did not respect his right to speak and debate as an elected lawmaker and that the federal lawyers convicted him using speculation they presented as evidence.
