AOC Calls on Sen. Bob Menendez to Resign as Some Dems Stay Quiet

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called on Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., to resign on Sunday, stating that the indictment against her fellow Democrat is 'extremely serious.'

During her appearance on CBS' 'Face the Nation' with host Margaret Brennan, AOC expressed her concern and emphasized the importance of consistency, stating, 'The situation is quite unfortunate, but I do believe that it is in the best interest for Sen. Menendez to resign in this moment. As you mentioned, consistency matters. It shouldn't matter whether it's a Republican or a Democrat.'

AOC's call for resignation comes amidst the backdrop of Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who, while acknowledging the seriousness and shock of the charges against Menendez, did not make a direct appeal for his colleague's resignation.

As AOC addressed Menendez's race, she highlighted the need to prevent the senator from using bias as a defense. 'As a Latina, there are absolutely ways in which there is systemic bias. But I think what is here in this indictment is quite clear. And I believe [resignation] is in the best interest to maintain the integrity of the seat,' she told Brennan.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Kelly, when pressed about Menendez's alleged crimes, expressed his astonishments, stating, 'These are serious and shocking charges. I've never seen anything like this. I think Sen. Menendez is gonna have to think long and hard about the cloud that's gonna hang over his service in the United States Senate.'

Menendez, who temporarily stepped down from his position as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, faces federal bribery charges. The indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife engaged in a corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen from at least 2018 through 2022.

During a press conference, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the indictment, stating, 'Today, I'm announcing that my office has obtained a three-count indictment charging Sen. Robert Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, and three New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, for bribery offenses.'

The indictment further reveals that the couple accepted 'hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using Menendez's power and influence as a senator to seek to protect and enrich Hana, Uribe and Daibes and to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt.'

The ongoing developments surrounding Senator Menendez's case have created a sense of suspense and intrigue among political circles. As the situation unfolds, the calls for resignation from prominent Democrats such as AOC only serve to amplify the gravity of the allegations against Menendez.

The impact of this case on Menendez's career and the broader Democratic party remains to be seen. With each passing day, the story continues to capture the attention and fascination of the public, drawing them into a web of political drama and uncertainty.