One month after being found guilty of several corruption charges, Cuban-American Senator Bob Menéndez announced that he is withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race as an independent candidate, thereby ending five decades of political career.
Menéndez, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, had launched a campaign as an independent candidate after he decided not to seek Democratic reelection in November due to criticism within the party over bribery allegations against him.
The EFE agency reported that Menéndez will not seek reelection for another six years in the Senate, after it was confirmed that he sent an email to the acting director of the New Jersey electoral agency asking to have his name removed from the ballot.
For his part, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, appointed his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to temporarily replace the Cuban politician until this legislative session concludes in January. "It is a tragic end to a long and productive career in public service," he expressed.
The Cuban-American represented New Jersey in Congress as a Democrat since 1992, first as a representative and then as a senator starting in 2006. In the Senate, he served as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, where he fought against the Castro dictatorship and advocated for a transition to democracy in Cuba.
In July, he was found guilty of 16 corruption charges, including accepting bribes in the form of gold, cash, and a luxury car. Prosecutors argued that he abused his political influence to protect his allies from legal investigations and to benefit associates, including his wife.
"I have never violated my public oath. I have always been a patriot of my country," he declared to reporters outside the court after being found guilty. "I have complete faith that the law and the facts did not support that decision and that we will succeed in the appeal," he added.
The ruling will be known on October 29.
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