A Senate Ethics Committee adjudicatory review of former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s alleged violations of the Senate rules has been closed after the embattled lawmaker’s resignation took effect on Tuesday.
Menendez, who for months resisted calls for his resignation, was facing a possible expulsion depending on the results of the review. Menendez first indicated that he planned to resign on July 23, just days after he was convicted on 16 counts of public corruption and bribery.
Federal prosecutors brought the charges against Menendez in New York in September 2023, alleging that the senator and his wife accepted bribes from New Jersey businessmen.
Committee Chairman Chris Coons, D-Del., and ranking member James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a statement on Wednesday that the panel had been preparing a written report for the Senate with findings and disciplinary recommendations. However, since he is no longer a member of the Senate, the committee no longer has jurisdiction over Menendez.
During Menendez’s trial, which lasted nearly two months, the prosecution alleged that in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, Menendez promised to press the New Jersey attorney general to hamper a criminal investigation, approve military aid to Egypt and to recommend a candidate for a U.S. attorney post who he thought he could influence to affect a federal case against a real estate developer, among other acts. The alleged bribes included cash, gold bars and a luxury car.
The jury heard testimony from the chief counsel and staff director of the Ethics panel, as well as FBI employees, government officials and an insurance broker who testified that he bribed Menendez in hopes of influencing state-level investigations to benefit people close to him.
The calls for Menendez’s resignation ramped up in the wake of his conviction, with New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker saying on MSNBC on the day of the verdict that he would lead an expulsion effort.
The disgraced politician, who served almost three full terms in the Senate, has indicated that he intends to appeal the verdict in his case, but said in a resignation letter to Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy that he “(does) not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work.”
[Related: Facing possible expulsion, Menendez plans to resign from Senate]
Murphy announced his intent to appoint George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to the newly vacant seat on Friday, saying that the former senior aide will be a custodian of the seat until after the November election. Murphy also said Friday that he would ask Helmy to resign from the seat after the results of the election are certified, about three weeks later, to allow the governor to appoint the winner to the role.
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who ran against Murphy’s wife Tammy Murphy in the Democratic primary earlier this year before she withdrew, and Republican developer Curtis Bashaw are facing off in the race to succeed Menendez. The race is rated Solid Democratic by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.
Murphy ensures a seniority advantage in the Senate by appointing the winner after results are certified. Menendez initially said he would run for reelection as an independent this fall before withdrawing from the race.
Helmy, who has most recently served as executive vice president and head of external affairs for RWJBarnabas Health, was Murphy’s chief of staff for more than four years. He was also state director for New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and worked for the late Democratic Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg.
“I have never — nor will I ever — seek elected office,” Helmy said during a press conference with Murphy announcing his planned appointment. “As a matter of fact, as the governor alluded to, the idea of being called ‘senator’ bothers me deeply — and I recognize I’ll now be spending the rest of my life telling people, ‘Please, go back to calling me what you did before.’”
If Kim is elected, he will have to resign from the House before serving in the Senate. In the race to succeed Kim in the competitive House district, longtime New Jersey Democratic legislator Herb Conaway is facing Republican physician Rajesh Mohan.
Helmy is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in on Sept. 9, when Congress returns from recess, according to Murphy’s office.
Ryan Tarinelli contributed to this report.
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