Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Jon Tester (Mont.) and Bob Casey (Pa.) on Tuesday became the fourth, fifth and sixth Democratic senators to call on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign from his position following his indictment on federal corruption charges last week.
“The indictment spells out deeply troubling allegations against Senator Menendez that breach the American people’s trust and compromise his ability to effectively represent his constituents,” Baldwin said in a statement.
“While Senator Menendez enjoys the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and will have his day in court to defend himself, I believe it’s best for his constituents, the American people, and our national security for the Senator to step down.”
Tester also released a short statement Tuesday morning, soon after Baldwin.
“I’ve read the detailed charges against Senator Menendez and find them deeply disturbing. While he deserves a fair trial like every other American, I believe Senator Menendez should resign for the sake of the public’s faith in the U.S. Senate,” he wrote.
And Casey released a statement soon after that.
“Public service is a sacred trust,” he wrote. “The specific allegations set forth in the federal indictment indicate to me that Senator Menendez violated that trust repeatedly. While he is entitled to the presumption of innocence, serving in public office is a privilege that demands a higher standard of conduct. Senator Menendez should resign.”
Baldwin, Tester and Casey join Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), John Fetterman (Pa.), and Peter Welch (Vt.) on the list of senators who have called on Menendez to step down from Congress.
“The shocking and specific allegations against Senator Menendez have wholly compromised his capacity to be that effective Senator,” Welch wrote Monday evening in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I encourage Senator Menendez to resign.”
A number of New Jersey House members and other leading Democratic officials have also called on Menendez to step down.
Menendez, along with his wife, Nadine, was indicted Friday on federal bribery charges.
Prosecutors allege that the couple received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to assist three New Jersey businessmen and their interests in Egypt. Federal authorities also found nearly $500,000 in cash and $100,000 in gold at the couple’s residence during a raid last year.
Menendez has denied the allegations against him. He said at a news conference Monday that he plans to fight the charges against him.
“The allegations leveled against me are just that: allegations,” Menendez said in Union City, N.J. “I recognized that this will be the biggest fight yet. But as I have stated through this whole process, I firmly believe that when all of the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey’s senior senator.”
Updated at 10:15 a.m. ET