Cardin officially takes over from Menendez as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, days after Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) stepped aside following an indictment on charges of fraud, bribery and extortion.

Cardin released a statement saying he accepted the position as chair with “great humility and appreciation” to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his colleagues.

“Democracy and freedom are being tested around the world. America’s national security, which depends on effective diplomacy and international development, as well as a strong defense, is facing challenges that require focused and responsible leadership in Congress to work with the White House on behalf of the American people,” Cardin said in a statement.

The Maryland Democrat, who also serves as co-chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, said he is dedicated to advancing a U.S. foreign policy focused on “human rights, anti-corruption and good governance.”

“We have much work ahead of us,” the senator said.

Cardin was expected to take over the chairmanship of the committee when the indictment against Menendez was unsealed last week.

Under Democratic conference rules, any senator charged with a federal crime must step aside from leadership positions and can be reinstated if the charges are cleared.

Cardin had previously taken over as chair of the Foreign Relations committee when Menendez was going through a separate legal ordeal stemming from a federal indictment between 2015 and 2018. Menendez took back the top Democratic position on the committee when the charges against him were cleared in 2018.

While more than half of Menendez’s Democratic senate colleagues have called for his resignation, the New Jersey Senator has so-far stayed firm in keeping his seat in the Senate. He continues to hold a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.