Following a nine-week corruption trial, Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was found guilty on 16 counts, prompting calls for his resignation from lawmakers in the Senate and his home state of New Jersey. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was among the first to urge Menendez to step down, emphasizing the need for him to do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and the country.
Should Menendez refuse to resign, there have been discussions about the possibility of expulsion. Governor Phil Murphy, D-N.J., stated that if the senator does not voluntarily resign, the Senate should proceed with a vote to expel him. Expulsion is a rare occurrence in the Senate's history, with only 15 members having been expelled, the last being Sen. Jesse Bright, D-Ind., in 1862.
