Governor Murphy issued a statement on July 16, 2024, following the guilty verdict in the trial of Senator Bob Menendez. The jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts.
"Today's verdict finding Senator Bob Menendez guilty on 16 counts demonstrates that the Senator broke the law, violated the trust of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of office. It also shows that in America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws," Governor Murphy stated.
Murphy emphasized that Menendez received a fair trial and due process as guaranteed by the Constitution. He expressed gratitude to public servants involved in the criminal justice system: "I want to thank all the public servants who play crucial roles in our criminal justice system, including our law enforcement officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, jurors, and judges. Their hard work ensured that these brazen crimes were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and our nation is grateful for their service."
The governor reiterated his call for Menendez's resignation: “I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately after being found guilty of endangering national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system. If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel him." Murphy added that he would make a temporary appointment if a vacancy arises: "In the event of a vacancy, I will exercise my duty to make a temporary appointment to ensure the people of New Jersey have the representation they deserve.”
