Booker's statement came as a growing number of Democratic senators -- more than 15 so far -- are calling for the three-term senator to step aside.
Menendez, the longtime chairman and top Democrat on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife Nadine are accused in an indictment released Friday of using his position to aid the authoritarian government of Egypt and to pressure federal prosecutors to drop a case against a friend, among other allegations of corruption. The three-count indictment says they were paid bribes - gold bars, a luxury car and cash - by three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for the corrupt acts.
Menendez has denied any wrongdoing, saying he merely performed as any senator would and that the nearly half million dollars in cash found in his home - including some stuffed in pockets of clothing - was from personal savings and kept at hand for emergencies. Authorities recovered about 10 cash-filled envelopes that had the fingerprints of one of the other defendants in the case on them, according to the indictment.
Menendez's defiance in recent days is similar to his insistence that he was innocent after he first faced federal bribery charges eight years ago -- a case that ended with a deadlocked jury in 2017. As he did then, he is stepping down from his leadership position on the Foreign Affairs panel, as per Senate Democratic caucus rules. But he has otherwise made clear that he's not going anywhere.
The increasing Democratic calls for Menendez to resign put increased pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders who have so far stopped short of recommending that Menendez step down. Schumer has not commented on the indictment since saying in a statement on Friday that Menendez would step down from the Foreign Relations panel.
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