Convicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) says he plans to appeal his guilty verdict on 16 charges ranging from bribery and extortion to obstruction of justice “all the way” to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
Menendez said in a letter dated July 23 to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and the Senate confirmed, that he will resign from the Senate effective Aug. 20, but he’s not admitting any guilt.
Instead, Menendez said he plans to appeal the verdict but cited concerns that he cannot fully preserve his legal rights if the Senate Ethics Committee conducts an adjudicatory review, which would likely result in a recommendation to expel or censure the New Jersey senator.