Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to seek independent reelection bid amid federal corruption trial
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has filed to run for reelection as an independent even as he is on trial on federal bribery charges
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who is on trial on federal bribery charges in New York, has filed to run as an independent candidate for reelection.
Menendez, 70, had said this year that he would not seek the Democratic nomination to pursue a fourth term, and on Monday he filed paperwork with the state to launch an independent bid on the ballot. He had previously said an independent run for office was possible.
Asked on his way into court Monday if he's changing political parties, Menendez said in Spanish, “no, independent doesn't mean I'm changing."
Later Monday, Menendez told reporters who asked him about his run that he’d done a lot for the state of New Jersey, particularly during the pandemic and after Superstorm Sandy.
