Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has temporarily stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee while facing federal corruption charges. Despite the charges, many have expressed their support for Menendez, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has called for Menendez to receive due process and a fair trial. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) and Republican candidate for governor Kim Guadagno have both called for Menendez to resign, citing the allegations as compromising his ability to represent the people of New Jersey.
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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips have called for Democratic Senator Robert Menendez to resign following his indictment on federal bribery charges. Menendez is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for official acts, but he has denied the charges and vowed to fight them in court. The case is being closely watched by both Democrats and Republicans, and its outcome is sure to have a major impact on the political landscape in New Jersey and beyond.
Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery and corruption, including providing sensitive U.S. government information and pressuring an official at the Agriculture Department. The couple is accused of receiving cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, and other items of value in exchange for Menendez using his influence as a U.S. senator. It is unclear if Menendez will face any further legal action or if the couple will face any jail time if convicted.
Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund manager and Gulf War veteran, launched his campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania on Thursday, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D). McCormick has received broad support from prominent Republicans and the Pennsylvania Republican Party, while Casey has been in office since 2007 and is the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The race between the two candidates is expected to be close and could have a major impact on the balance of power in the Senate.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is visiting Washington, D.C. to seek additional military aid to help fend off Russia’s invasion, but a key bloc of Republicans in the GOP-controlled lower chamber have expressed skepticism and sent a letter to the White House expressing their opposition to the request for $24 billion in additional funding. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans have voiced their support for the Biden administration’s efforts, but the letter from the GOP lawmakers expresses their concern that the Biden administration has not provided sufficient answers to their questions. The letter states that the lawmakers will not support additional funding for Ukraine until they receive answers to their questions.
The Senate has confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the nation's top military officer, in a move that is necessary to confirm Biden's nominees and ensure the Pentagon is adequately funded. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Wednesday night that the House will vote again on the $826.2 billion defense bill, and the House plans to move forward with the Department of Defense bill and then a number of other appropriation bills. It remains to be seen whether the House will be able to pass the defense bill and avert a government shutdown in 10 days.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has moved forward with confirming three senior military nominees who were blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), including Gen. Eric Smith for Marine Corps commandant. Tuberville had been holding up more than 300 military nominations due to his objections to the Pentagon’s policy on travel for abortion care, but he implemented a combination of procedural and political gymnastics to force the Senate to confirm Gen. Eric Smith’s promotion to Marine Corps commandant. Despite this small break in the logjam, hundreds of other lower-ranking military officials are still waiting for Senate approval.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has changed the Senate's informal dress code to allow senators to wear whatever they want on the floor, which was highlighted when Senator John Fetterman presided over the Senate in shorts and no tie. Senator Susan Collins jokingly offered to wear a bikini to the Senate floor, but clarified she would not. The change is seen as a move to modernize the Senate and make it more inclusive and accessible.