Sen. Bob Menendez (DN.J.) filed to run for another term in the Senate as an independent on Monday as his federal bribery trial continues.
Menendez announced in March that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for his Senate seat, but left the door open to the possibility of an independent run. The former senator faces numerous charges in a wide-ranging corruption case in which prosecutors allege he and his wife accepted bribes in exchange for favors for three businessmen.
Menendez, who pleaded not guilty, subject his paperwork for the independent candidacy one day before New Jersey’s Tuesday deadline for candidates.
The New Jersey Globe was the first to report on Monday morning that Menendez was planning to run as an independent.
Menéndez appeared likely to seek and win another term as the Democratic candidate in the fall, but he received widespread calls to resign from office after he and his wife were accused of accepting more than $600,000 in bribes from businesspeople.
Prosecutors allege that after receiving the payments, Menéndez pressured state authorities to slow or end criminal investigations against the businessmen and their allies. They also accuse him of using his position to act as an agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.
Several substitute charges were filed against Menéndez since the initial one, adding other charges to the case. Menéndez has refused calls to resign but stepped away from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The Democratic candidate for the Senate seat will likely be Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who announced his candidacy for the seat shortly after Menendez was charged. Kim, who does not face major opposition to the nomination, said when launching his candidacy that seeing the allegations against Menendez contributed to his decision to run.
Kim denounced Menendez’s offer in an X post on Monday, accusing prevent him from seeking re-election solely out of self-interest.
“Everyone knows Bob Menendez is not running for NJ families. He is running for himself,” Kim said. “People are fed up with politicians putting their personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country. It’s past time for change. I’m stepping up action to restore the integrity of the Senate.”
The Hill has reached out to Menendez’s office for comment.
If Kim wins the Democratic nomination, he would be the favorite to win the seat in the heavily Democratic-leaning state. But Menendez running as a third-place candidate alongside the Republican nominee could throw an unexpected curveball in the race.
A Farleigh Dickinson University poll from April showed that Kim’s lead over either of the two Republicans most likely to win the Republican nomination narrows slightly, with Menendez included as a third choice. Menéndez’s support is in single digits.
Kim was still ahead in the polls, but Menéndez made it more restrictive, with the incumbent’s support coming from some Hispanic and black voters.
But Menendez’s request does not definitively mean he will be on the ballot in November. He said he would only run if he was found not guilty at his trial, which has been ongoing for a few weeks and could continue for at least a few more.
Updated at 6:08 pm.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
