Democrat Senator Bob Menendez To Change Party Status Amid His Corruption Trial

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a lifelong Democrat out of New Jersey, has reportedly filed paperwork to run for a fourth term in office as an independent as he currently on trial in a federal corruption case that, if convicted, could result in him spending the rest of his life in prison.

The New Jersey Globe reported that Menendez himself did not deliver the petitions himself as he is currently in a federal courthouse in Manhattan for his 12th day on trial.

Menendez running as an independent could potentially threaten the Democrat Party’s grip on the state as it could divide voter’s support for the Democrat nominee and catapult a Republican to victory.

However, the likelihood of this appears to be low, especially if Menendez is convicted of the various corruption-related charges that he faces.

By running as an independent, Menendez can “continue to raise and spend campaign contributions on lawyers hired to defend him and his wife,” Nadine Menendez, who is also charged in the alleged criminal conspiracy, The New York Times reported.

He said earlier this year that if he was exonerated in the case that he would “pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election.”

“Americans are fed up with politicians putting their own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country,” said Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who is running to be the party’s nominee for the seat, said in a statement. “Everyone knows Bob Menendez isn’t running for the people of New Jersey, he’s doing it for himself. It’s beyond time for change and I’m stepping up to restore integrity back into the U.S. Senate.”

Menendez and his wife were indicted on federal charges in September for allegedly accepting bribes from three businessmen in exchange for actions that he took as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the DOJ, the alleged bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.

Prosecutors later said in a revised indictment that Menendez also allegedly used his clout to help a friend secure a multi-million dollar investment deal from the Qatari government, in part by taking actions that benefited Qatar.

In a subsequent superseding indictment, Menendez was also charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, public official acting as a foreign agent, bribery, extortion and honest services wire fraud