Dem
51
GOP
49
We already knew Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) knew how to take a bribe; it turns out he also knows how to take a hint. Yesterday, he sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) advising that he is stepping down from the Senate, effective August 20.
Menendez explains in the letter that he needs the 3 weeks between now and then to properly deal with staffing and other matters that are currently pending. Truth be told, we suspect he just wants another couple of paychecks, and that he'll spend the next 3 weeks goldbricking. That said, he might take this opportunity to properly clean his sticky fingers before he walks... like an Egyptian.
Undoubtedly, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is grateful for two things. The first is that Menendez went without a fight. The second is that the governor of New Jersey is a Democrat. This would have been much tougher for the blue team if getting rid of a corrupt member also meant giving up a crucial seat to a Republican. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), etc. damn well better keep their noses clean.
Murphy has already said that he will not appoint his wife to serve the last few months of Menendez' term, and that the candidates he is seriously considering are Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way (D), U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas and former state Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells (D). All of them are women of color who would be caretakers, so the Governor is basically running the Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) playbook. (Z)