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US Senator Robert Menendez in 2019.Credit:AP

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called on his state’s senior senator to step down after the charges were announced.

Menendez,as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,defended theAUKUS agreement from Republican resistance.

Murphy,a fellow Democrat,could appoint a successor should Menendez agree to step down.

In a statement released late Friday afternoon,Murphy said the allegations were “deeply disturbing.”

“These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” he added.

Two of the gold bars found during a search by federal agents of Senator Bob Menendez’s home.Credit:AP

He said that while Menendez and his co-defendants – his wife,Nadine Menendez,and three businessmen – were entitled to defend themselves,“the alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore,I am calling for his immediate resignation”.

The sweeping federal charges accuse the Menendezes of doing favours for the businessmen who showered them with gifts of gold bars,hundreds of thousands in cash,mortgage payments and a Mercedes convertible.

The indictment in New York federal court said that Menendez abused his power to secretly benefit Egypt as well the businessmen,including one seeking help with his own federal indictment. Another businessman sought the senator’s help to protect his company,the only authorised importer of halal meat to Egypt,according to court papers.

A jacket bearing Menendez’s name,along with cash from envelops found inside the jacket.Credit:AP

The senator,who is up for re-election next year,has denied the allegations and pledged to fight them.

Representative Andy Kim of New Jersey also released a statement urging Menendez to resign. Another House Democrat,Dean Phillips of Minnesota,earlier told CNN he should step down.

Earlier Friday,Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that Menendez “had rightly decided” to give up his chairmanship of the Foreign Relations panel “until the matter has been resolved”.

Schumer also praised Menendez,saying he “has been a dedicated public servant”.

When he faced charges in an earlier unrelated corruption case,Menendez gave up his post as the top Democrat on the committee. His 2017 trial ended in a hung jury and prosecutors later dropped the case.

Under the US Constitution,he cannot be removed from office unless two-thirds of his fellow senators vote to expel him. According to the Senate’s website,15 members have been expelled since 1789. All but one were removed because they supported the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Several other senators,however,resigned after charges were brought against them. That includes Senator Harrison Williams,a New Jersey Democrat who had been indicted in the Abscam bribery scandal. He resigned in 1982.

Bloomberg

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