Corrected 7:21 p.m. | History is repeating itself on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Chairman Bob Menendez relinquishes his leadership position for a second time because of federal corruption charges, with Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin expected to take the gavel.
Cardin, D-Md., will take over with a few differences compared to the last time the transfer happened, in 2015. Unlike the last time, Democrats now hold the Senate, so passing the gavel will give him greater influence on the committee’s foreign policy agenda.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., hasn’t announced a decision but is expected to follow the precedent set in 2015 by then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. He asked Cardin, second in seniority on the committee, to take over. Back then it was to become acting ranking member.
