Despite an all-senators confidential briefing on Israel scheduled for Wednesday, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, accused of serving as an agent of Egypt, will not be present. Federal bribery and public corruption charges have been brought against Menendez and his wife for allegedly taking expensive gifts from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for information that would benefit the men and the Egyptian government.
Prosecutors have accused Menendez of conspiring to operate as a foreign agent for Egypt in a new indictment filed last week. He has repeatedly denied any guilt. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, expressed worry that Menendez was given a secret briefing on an important U.S. partner that borders Egypt.
Seventy percent of Garden State residents, according to a survey conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, want Menendez out of office before the beginning of his third term in January 2025.
Only 16% of voters think he should stay in office. The poll also indicated that 71% of Democrats and 67% of independents support the senator resigning. While most young and black New Jerseyans agree that Menendez should continue in his current role, only 25% of white New Jerseyans share this opinion.
Although Menendez has withstood similar accusations, he appears to have lost virtually all his support. Most survey takers agreed that New Jersey officials are corrupt somehow, with only 9 percent claiming that people in power are not.
When asked if they planned to vote in the next state legislative elections, 54% of New Jersey residents indicated they were “almost certain” to do so when the Menendez indictment was brought up, compared to 47% who said the same thing when it wasn’t. When the Menendez indictment is brought up in an interview, 20% of independent voters also lean toward Republican candidates, compared to 12% who lean toward the GOP when it is not. When asked whether or not they would vote for their party’s nominee, Democrats were more likely to say yes after hearing of the Menendez indictment (79% vs. 73%).
The Foreign Agents Registration Act was violated by Menendez and his wife in their interactions with Egyptian officials, according to a superseding indictment unsealed on October 12.
