New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, described on his own website as a “tireless advocate for common-sense gun violence prevention measures”—which translates to gun control legislation—has been convicted by a federal jury of charges he accepted bribes for helping foreign governments, according to Fox News.
Word of the conviction brought calls for his resignation from fellow Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Fox reported.
Menendez has long been a supporter of increasingly strict gun control laws. His home state of New Jersey is widely known as one of the most restrictive states when it comes to ratcheting down on Second Amendment rights.
According to the Associated Press, Menendez has also been urged to resign by the Republican Senate candidate running to replace him, Curtis Bashaw. The Senate Ethics Committee is also investigating Menendez.
The investigation uncovered a reported $100,000 worth of gold bars and a small fortune in cash hidden in the senator’s home. He reportedly claimed the gold belonged to his wife, who has also been charged, but her trial has been delayed while she is being treated for breast cancer.
The trial stretched out for nine weeks and the jury deliberated for three days before returning the verdict.
Along with Menendez, the jury convicted his two business associates, Fred Diabes and Wael Hana.
The 70-year-old Menendez maintained his innocence after the verdict was announced. He was quoted by published reports contending, “I have never violated my public oath. I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent.”
Menendez chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and contended he was doing his job. He did not testify during the trial.
Among his gun control efforts was legislation aimed at repealing the prohibition on the ATF’s release of firearms tracing data. The bill would also have removed the requirement that the FBI destroy all NICS-approved gun purchase records within 24 hours.
He was co-founder of the Senate Gun Violence Prevention Caucus.
