Staff Reports
The Washington Examiner's Sarah Bedford thinks that the Democratic Party wants Sen. Bob Menendez to step down because of the corruption issue he is facing, which could hurt his chances of getting re-elected in 2024. Menendez has been charged with corruption because he is said to have helped the Egyptian government in exchange for money. Menendez says he is innocent, but Democrats are worried about how this might affect his bid to stay in office.
Washington Examiner's Sarah Bedford says Democrats want Menendez to resign due to reelection chances https://t.co/zoJkE1fdd1
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 27, 2023
Bedford says that the Democrats are scared because they almost lost the 2021 race for governor of New Jersey. Democrats are afraid that if Menendez fights a war in both court and the polls, it could hurt what should be a safe Democratic seat next year. They want to re-elect Menendez. He thinks that Democrats want Menendez to step down so that they don't lose the spot to Republicans.
Bedford also says that Menendez running for reelection while being charged could hurt the Democrats' plan for 2024, which is to show that former President Donald Trump is guilty and unfit to serve because he is being charged. For a well-known Democrat to be facing corruption charges takes away from their message against Trump and shows how hypocritical they are among their own party members.
18 Democratic senators, including Cory Booker, have asked Menendez to step down. Booker says it's the best choice for the people Menendez has worked for his whole career. Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, says that the charges are serious, but that Menendez and "the Senate leadership" make the choice about whether to step down.
