The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Donna Robert
Senate Democrats are open to working with Sen. Robert Menendez, despite most pushing for the New Jersey Democrat to resign in the face of federal bribery and corruption charges.
Mr. Menendez’s refusal to exit the chamber amid widespread resignation calls has morphed him into the Senate version of House Republicans’ political pariah: New York Rep. George Santos.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to federal charges and been defiant in the face of intraparty resignation demands, insisting they will be proven innocent and will thus continue serving, to the chagrin of their colleagues.
But while Mr. Santos and Mr. Menendez have provided fuel for the opposing party and offered a distraction to party agendas, both are crucial to their slim chamber majorities.
“We are a narrowly divided body,” said Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, who’s not called for Mr. Menendez’s resignation. “There’s no surplus votes in the United States Senate these days.”
Senate Democrats have just a two-seat majority. House Republicans have a five-seat majority.
“I’ve disagreed strongly with some of my colleagues over time and found it difficult to work with a number of them,” said Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “But we have measures that we’re working on together, and I would expect that we have to continue working with both senators of New Jersey — whoever they are.”
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown is a vulnerable Ohio Democrat up for reelection next year and was the second member to call for Mr. Menendez’s resignation.
“I think he should step down, but he’s a member of the Senate and will continue to serve on my committee,” Mr. Brown said. “We’ll figure out ways to do what we need to do.”
Mr. Menendez failed to convince Democratic colleagues behind closed doors last week to back off their resignation calls. The third-term senator and his wife are accused by New York prosecutors of accepting gifts from three New Jersey businessmen — including about $500,000 in cash, gold bars and a luxury car — in exchange for sensitive information and favors to benefit the tycoons and the Egyptian government.
He was forced to step down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but remains on the panel with access to sensitive and classified materials.
Mr. Menendez doubled down last week to colleagues that he will not resign, but remained vague on whether he will seek reelection next year.
House Republicans have been similarly stuck with Mr. Santos, who’s charged with fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and false statements. Mr. Santos is running for reelection.
Both men face primary challenges.
With Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman as the lone member pushing to expel Mr. Menendez, Senate Democrats have little choice other than to get along with their embattled colleague.
“The optics are not good, and I think he knows that,” said Senate Energy Committee Chairman Joe Manchin III, West Virginia Democrat.
He’s not called for Mr. Menendez to resign.
“I’m going to work with everyone equally,” Mr. Manchin said. “This is between New Jersey and Sen. Menendez.”
