If Sen. Bob Menendez was hoping to win back support from fellow Democrats in a closed-door meeting Thursday — where he vowed not to resign despite his indictment for allegedly taking bribes — he appears to have failed.
Exiting the sitdown, senators were quiet, glum and seemed altogether unmoved. Menendez’s address to his colleagues may have even made his situation even worse — Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who didn’t attend the meeting, said afterward that he’d be open to backing Menendez’s expulsion given his refusal to step down.
“Whatever kinds of procedures” could bring about “getting rid of him, I’m all for it,” Fetterman said of Menendez. Asked directly if he would support an expulsion resolution should one come to the floor, Fetterman said yes.
While the majority of senators exiting the meeting offered no details, citing the privacy of the matter, those who did portrayed a grim face-to-face with their embattled colleague.
“It’s emotional. People are trying to collect their thoughts. I’m very bummed about the entire thing,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said when asked about his colleagues silence following the meeting. “It’s depressing, frustrating, maddening. All of those things.”
“I don’t think there’s anything happy about this situation,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has not called on Menendez to resign, offered a slightly more upbeat outlook. Manchin told reporters that Menendez “made his point and he delivered it very well.”
“Every American is innocent until proven guilty. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Let him defend himself,” Manchin said.
Menendez’s address to his colleagues was similar to defiant his public remarks rejecting the charges against him, according to a person familiar with the meeting. He did not address whether he will run again for reelection.
His term ends next year, but the majority of Senate Democratic leaders and the chair of their campaign arm have all called on him to exit now.
At least one New Jersey Democrat, Rep. Andy Kim, has already said he will run for Menendez’s seat, with more candidates expected to jump into the primary.
Daniella Diaz and Anthony Adragna contributed.
