U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s staff says the indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez will have no impact on Corker’s effort to stamp out human trafficking — despite the New Jersey Democrat being a major co-sponsor of the so-called End Modern Slavery bill.
Menendez was indicted last week for allegedly accepting $1 million in gifts and contributions from a friend in exchange for political favors. He has since stepped down from his post on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Todd Womack, Corker’s chief of staff, said that while Menendez was an early partner on the bill, the legislation has plenty of other supporters.
“Sen. Corker’s bill to help eliminate slavery and human trafficking around the globe was passed unanimously out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February and continues to receive broad, bipartisan support,” Womack said.
Menendez, a former chairman and ranking Democrat on the committee, stepped down and was replaced Thursday by Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.