NJ governor appoints George Helmy to fill Menendez vacancy in Senate

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is set to appoint his former chief of staff to fill an upcoming vacancy in Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-N.J.) seat, he said Friday.

“Today, I am incredibly proud to announce that upon Senator Menendez’s resignation, I will be appointing George Samir Helmy to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate,” Murphy said.

The governor called Helmy “the ideal leader” for the position, saying, “to take on this role — and “he has more relevant experience under his belt than perhaps anybody in New Jersey.”

The Senate received a resignation letter from Menendez last month, and he is set to step away from his seat Tuesday. The resignation letter followed his conviction on charges including bribery and acting as a foreign agent in a corruption case.

“I have never violated my public oath,” Menendez said in the wake of his trial. “I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent.”

Murphy said Friday that Menendez “accomplished many things on behalf of our state and our residents, but sadly, he will be remembered for putting his own interests ahead of the public interest.”

Helmy said he was grateful to Murphy for his “continued trust” alongside the governor’s “belief in my ability to step into this awesome role, and take on this awesome responsibility of this office.”

“I will stand as our second crucial voice in the Democratic Caucus under Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the important items that will come before us over the next months,” Helmy said.

The Hill has reached out to Menendez’s office.