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Opinion: U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should resign

Photo/Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times / Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., center, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, leave their arraignment at Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. They were charged in what federal prosecutors say was a years-long bribery scheme. They entered not guilty pleas.
Photo/Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times / Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., center, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, leave their arraignment at Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. They were charged in what federal prosecutors say was a years-long bribery scheme. They entered not guilty pleas. Photo/Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times / Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., center, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, leave their arraignment at Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. They were charged in what federal prosecutors say was a years-long bribery scheme. They entered not guilty pleas.

By The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial 3 min read


New Jersey’s Robert Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence (again). But after his latest federal indictment on bribery charges, he should not be entitled to continue to serve in the United States Senate.

Menendez should resign.

The cloud hanging over the Garden State’s senior senator will inevitably distract from his ability to put his constituents first. He should step down and focus his energy on mounting a credible defense.

However, Menendez said he is not going anywhere. During a news conference on Monday, he recounted his many accomplishments championing worthy causes and standing up for New Jersey residents, and declared he would be “exonerated.”