Sen. Robert Menendez holds high-stakes meeting with fellow senate Democrats
CRANFORD, N.J. - Calls continue to grow for Sen. Robert Menendez to step down.
This comes a day after the 69-year-old pleaded not guilty to bribery and extortion charges.
Thursday, the Democrat met with his colleagues in the Senate to state his case on why he should stay.
Menendez arrived at his office at the Capitol Thursday morning, and later went to a closed-door meeting with his Senate colleagues.
Sources tell CBS New York's Christine Sloan Menendez once again reaffirmed his stance, that he will not resign, even though close to 30 senators have urged him to step down.
Sloan asked some New Jersey residents what they want to say to him.
"Move. Move out of your seat, like, now. Come on, you've been there for a while. This is not your first encounter with the problem. So let's go," Roselle resident Judy Durr said.
"I don't really think he should. I think you are innocent until you are proved guilty," Cranford resident Maureen Klabaur said.
New Jersey Democratic party leaders are concerned if Menendez stays and runs for reelection in 2024, he could risk losing his seat to Republican.
"If it lingers into 2024, it will have impact on congressional races, it will have impact on a presidential race. Certainly race for United States and down-ballot candidates," Democratic State Committee Chair LeRoy Jones said. "The most important thing is the senator makes the right decision. The right decision would be to resign. When that decision is made, party leaders will caucus and determine what course of action we will take in respect to a vacancy."
Rep. Andy Kim has said he will challenge Menendez in 2024.
Insiders told Sloan he may not have the support of all 21 county Democratic committees.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges Wednesday. The fed accuse the couple of taking close to $500,000 in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors.
The government seized gold bars and close to $500,000 in cash from the home and safe deposit box, some of the cash was in in envelopes found stuffed in the senator's jacket. The envelopes allegedly bore the fingerprints of one of the indicted businessmen.
Menendez has said the money's legal, and is savings from his years of service.
Sources also told Sloan as Menendez began to speak at the closed-door caucus meeting, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, who heads the Ethics Committee, stepped out, which could indicate a possible ethics investigation.
Should Menendez choose to step down, Murphy would have the power to fill his position.
