In case anyone is wondering what happens if Menendez resigns...

[EarlG]

NJSA 19:3-26 Vacancies in United States senate; election to fill; temporary appointment by governor

If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this State in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this State shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

The governor of this State may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this State whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the Board of State Canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.

https://nj.gov/state/dos-statutes-elections-19-01-09.shtml

So Gov. Phil Murphy (D) would appoint a new senator if Menendez resigns. We would not lose a senate seat.

[underpants]

1. Thanks

[ALBliberal]

2. Sure hope he resigns. Schumer will hopefully

start a pressure campaign.

[Ocelot II]

5. If Al Franken could be forced to resign over bullshit, surely Menendez, who seems

to have actually done something wrong (Gold bars? Really?) can be encouraged to do likewise.

[BootinUp]

10. Franken made the best decision he could

at the time, I didn’t see it as he was forced to. But his seat is very contested between the two parties so perhaps that is a fair way to frame it.

[murielm99]

23. Franken lost the support of his coalition,

his party, if you will. When that happens it is time to resign. Otherwise, it creates a power vacuum and cause for infighting. It happened here with a county chair. The chair stayed on, but did not run again. The fighting was destroying the local party and possibly costing us votes. The resignation was not fair. That person was loyal and had worked hard. But it was the best solution at the time. The party came to see that the person who caused all the trouble was not worth the effort. She ended up moving out of state. New people who were not involved in the fighting stepped in and things have since healed.

[BootinUp]

25. I agree murielm.

Hopefully Menendez gets the same message and cannot ignore.

[ALBliberal]

12. Sure hope so!!! Come on Gillibrand! Do your thing!

I felt the Franken outster was BS. This is definitely a good cause for her.

[OMGWTF]

58. 100%

[LenaBaby61]

45. REALLY THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[LymphocyteLover]

60. Right???

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Let's do it.

Hopefully they'll pick someone who is electable in the next election.

[Texin]

22. I heard on MSNBC this morning that Mikey Sherrill is thinking (strongly)

about entering the primary, along with others.

[Stinky The Clown]

33. That would be my choice!!!!

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Will Republicans rev up an impeachment?

[Ocelot II]

6. Senators can't be impeached. The Senate decided that in 1798.

They can only be expelled.

[Jose Garcia]

24. They can be expelled

[DiamondShark]

70. They can *only* be expelled.

Emphasis added.

[NutmegYankee]

7. Impeachment is for executive and judicial branches only.

Legislative branch controls membership issues via expulsion votes.

[Hortensis]

18. Yes, and 2/3 vote to expel him from the senate won't happen.

Much as some of his Democratic colleagues might wish to.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. You think? Sorry just catching up. Are you saying

There will be a trial and some Dems will say let that play out? If expulsion attempt happens?

[AdamGG]

53. Rethugs wouldn't vote to expel him...

They'd rather keep him around as a festering sore for as long as possible.

[Hortensis]

54. :) Hi there. Just amateur "think": With our barely existent senate majority,

we couldn't afford to lose his vote, so we'd oppose expulsion. We need him to resign so a temp Dem replacement can be appointed. He's already resigned as chair of Foreign Relations, so keeping that's not a consideration. If he refuses, worst case we'd need him in place until we can replace him by election.

He says he's innocent and he's innocent until proven otherwise, but I wouldn't bet the bacon I'll be making for breakfast that the feds don't have a tight case.

These days there are new lessons every day, but...resignation watch?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

59. Hi Thanks for explanation! So no temp appointment

If he was expelled? We definitely don't need a public expulsion hearing. Optics. Agree a decent resignation speaks volumes.

[Hortensis]

61. I must have blanked an ugly sensationalized expulsion out.

Wonder how long that would take, until a temporary replacement could step in? And permanent candidates could run campaigns free of this mess? We're barely over a year out from the 2024 election now.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. So we preserve our floor vote advantage but what happens at the committee level?

[NJCher]

15. goes to highest ranking senior democrat

who is that? Been googling around to find out.

[True Blue American]

55. menendez already resigned as Chairmen.

Last edited Sat Sep 23, 2023, 12:11 PM - Edit history (1)

And I noticed above someone mentioned Gillebrand. She took Hillary’s place and was the main instigator causing Al Franken to resign. Why would anyone expect anything from her? She pushed Democrats to force him out.

[NJCher]

64. He's only resigned temporarily

but that's neither here nor there for purposes of this discussion point.

I don't know about Gillabrand being the ranking senior.

I do know that she's a regular on our local public radio (WNYC) and from what I hear her say on these appearances, she does a lot of good for our causes. It is true she made a grievous error with Franken, but if one condemns every politician who does something we don't like, there would be no one to support.

[True Blue American]

65. I did not say Gillibrand

Was a Senior Senator. I did say she was the one who pushed Democrats to insist Al resign. She pushed it hard.

[NJCher]

67. I understood that

eom

[True Blue American]

68. Thanks.

[a kennedy]

9. He better resign....

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. I am sorely behind but thought I heard him say it's all bogus?

[LenaBaby61]

46. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[iluvtennis]

11. Thanks for this info! n/t

[BadgerMom]

13. Thomas's corruption is replaced as a headline by Menendez's.

I hate that there is corruption at all among our top officials, but Menendez will have his day in court for adjudication. Thomas will continue to poison our legal system without any official eyes on him. In my opinion, Thomas is a worse case.

[Bluethroughu]

16. That's what I'd showcase...dollar for dollar Clarence takes all.

[Walleye]

28. Not quite the same, Thomas will never be indicted

But I agree he is 10 times worse. He is one of nine Menendez is one of 100.

[Owens]

14. Democrats should force Republicans

to expel Santos from the House or Thomas from the Supreme Court

[Stinky The Clown]

35. How?

[Judi Lynn]

17. Thank you. Very good news. n/t

[wendyb-NC]

19. That's good to know

Thank you, for that info, EarlG.

[Joinfortmill]

20. Good. Menendez needs to go.

[True Blue American]

66. So does Thomas. His wife needs to be indicted.

But this is the second time for Menendez. When Police find gold bars an $480,000 stuffed in suit pockets I would say he needs to go. Democrats should not back him.

[Fresh Water Falling]

21. That was my Understanding

Thank you for shoring it up.

[Upthevibe]

26. EarlG

Thank you for this post!

When I first saw the headline about him my heart sank.
The I googled who the Governor of New Jersey is and felt a huge amount of relief.

He REALLY needs to resign now! (IMHO).

[True Blue American]

57. Right! He should have resigned the first time he was charged.

Democrats need to push out any grifters. We are not Republicans who shield them!

[Laelth]

27. Good to know. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth

[Ligyron]

29. Why should he resign?

I mean, Trump, Thomas and Santos are all accused of shit and they ain't going anywhere.

Only Democrats resign it would seem, even if they in truth did nothing all that much that was wrong. While the GQP stand behind their criminal cohorts 100%, Dems kick their people to the curb.

We are in a freakin' WAR people!

We cannot afford to lose good soldiers like Franken. That whole BS incident still pisses me off every time I think about it and at least I know I'm not alone in this.

The GQP's playbook of anti science and anti democracy seems to be working like a charm even though there's nothing charming about it.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Franken should never have resigned but Menendez should have the LAST time this shit came up.

[pazzyanne]

40. Exactly! nt

[KPN]

52. Yup.

[EarlG]

37. We are in a war -- but it's a war of ideas

If we just take the ideas of our opponents and copy them -- "Politicians who are criminally indicted should not step down!" -- then we're not fighting a war, we're simply surrendering the battlefield to their point of view.

"Republicans are right -- ethics are not important in politics!"

[jaxexpat]

63. Take out the trash, dust off hands and job done. Whistle a little, while walking from the curb.

[ramapo]

39. Because then we get a clean Senator

You don't get indicted twice for no reason

[LenaBaby61]

47. REALLY THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Snooper9]

48. because apparently he is a grifting POS

And we shouldn't endorse/support those...

[True Blue American]

56. Agree!

[orangecrush]

30. Thank you

[PortTack]

31. Thx...I certainly was wondering

Menendez should resign

[TygrBright]

32. Hope he does resign. He's been an infected pustule on the Party's face too long. n/t

[brooklynite]

34. the operative phrase being..."if Menendez resigns"

[LenaBaby61]

49. A friend in NJ told me this morning that he's supposed to be running AGAIN this umcoming ....

election cycle

You're right. IF he resigns, because his trial won't be coming for a while

[ramapo]

38. Hope he goes. Please

I'm a constituent. Grudgingly voted for the sleaze bag and his stupid Cuba policies. He's gross and we deserve much better

[NowISeetheLight]

44. Ouch

I know everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but this looks pretty damning. If this stuff is even 10% true I want him out.

[LenaBaby61]

50. Menendez, 69, has been walking a tight-rope of corruption like Karl Wallenda walked the .....

tight-rope for years.

Poor Karl's end came ..... HOPEFULLY this is it for Menendez.

[William769]

51. K&R.

[mvd]

62. There have definitely been..

a number of Democrats who have been treated unfairly, Franken among them. But from what I read, this is not the case with Menendez. He should resign and Murphy can pick a replacement.

[True Blue American]

69. He was giving secrets for that money and a luxury car.

He needs to go!