A once defiant Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey abandoned his re-election campaign weeks after being convicted on bribery and corruption charges.
Menendez, a once powerful figure in the Democratic Party, had said he would run as an independent to try to continue on in the U.S. Senate.
‘Menendez is really a senator for Egypt, not New Jersey.’
On Friday, those dreams died.
“By means of this email please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot,” read a message from the senator to the New Jersey Division of Elections.
The news came hours after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, announced the replacement for Menendez in the Senate until a winner in the election can be determined in November.
“George [Helmy] is the model of integrity we…
