Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) called on Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign on Tuesday, making her the highest-ranking Senate Democrat to do so as he faces federal bribery and corruption charges.
“The allegations against Senator Bob Menendez are very concerning,” Stabenow, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, said in a statement. “While he deserves his presumption of innocence, I believe it’s best for him to step down from the U.S. Senate.”
“Bob is a longtime colleague and it saddens me to come to this decision,” she continued.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the No. 4 Senate Democrat, had called for him to step aside earlier in the day and was the first member of leadership to do so.
Stabenow’s comment comes as Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have both refrained from joining the pro-resignation chorus.
Schumer said on Friday that Menendez made the right call in stepping away from his post atop the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but has not added anything further.
Menendez has remained defiant amid the growing calls for him to resign, with more than 20 Senate Democrats urging him to step down.
“I’m innocent,” Menendez told reporters when asked why he won’t listen to the resignation calls. “What’s wrong with you guys?”