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New RNC Video Calls on Democrats to Demand Menendez's Resignation if Convicted of Corruption Charges

September 5, 2017

The Republican National Committee released a video Tuesday on the corruption trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D.), calling on Democrats to be consistent and call for his resignation if convicted.

The video highlights past, bipartisan calls for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R.) to resign after he was convicted in 2008 in a federal corruption trial. He did not step down and his conviction was ultimately overturned, but he lost his re-election battle that year.

After showing a quote from former Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse that Menendez does not need to "run out and resign if he's convicted," the RNC video displays statements from 2008 presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain calling on Stevens to step down after his conviction.

Then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) said at the time: "The reality is that a convicted felon is not going to be able to serve in the United States Senate."

"Democrats and Republicans were against a convicted felon serving in the Senate then," the video says. "Why would it be any different now?"

In a statement, RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said Menendez's case was "ripe with corruption" and Senate Democrats should immediately call for his resignation if convicted.

"Democratic Senator Robert Menendez's public corruption trial is a big deal, but it has been vastly underreported in the media,"she said. "This case is ripe with corruption and chock full of lies involving lavish resorts, nearly one million dollars in gifts, and political favors leveraged to benefit a wealthy donor who has already been convicted of defrauding Medicare of more than $90 million. A sitting U.S. senator involved in a federal bribery trial and facing 14 corruption-related counts is no small potatoes. If convicted, Senate Democrats need to immediately call for his resignation."

Menendez faces multiple charges of bribery and fraud stemming from a longtine friendship with Florida ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen. Prosecutors allege Menendez illicitly accepted gifts and trips in exchange for political favors, while Menendez has said he has done nothing improper.

The trial begins Wednesday.