U.S. Senator Bob Menendez resigned on Tuesday following his conviction on corruption charges, including bribery and acting as an agent for Egypt’s government.
Facing pressure from fellow Democrats, he decided to step down from his role.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint Menendez’s replacement.
Menendez has represented New Jersey in the Senate since 2006 and was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee before stepping down last year due to the charges.
Menendez, 70, was found guilty on July 16 by a jury in Manhattan federal court on all 16 counts he faced, including obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and extortion.
His two co-defendants were also convicted.
Prosecutors said Menendez and his wife accepted cash, gold bars, and car and mortgage payments in exchange for steering U.S. aid to Egypt and influencing prosecutions. Menendez plans to appeal his conviction.
Menendez’s resignation reduces the Democratic majority in the Senate to 50-49 until Murphy’s appointee is sworn in.
Representative Andy Kim is running for the seat in November and is favored to win in Democratic-leaning New Jersey.
