Bullet points of Sen. Bob Menendez abandons defiant re-election campaign after conviction on bribery and corruption charges
- Bob Menendez, a former Democratic Senator from New Jersey, dropped his re-election bid following a bribery and corruption conviction.
- Menendez, previously a prominent Democrat, intended to run as an independent but ultimately withdrew.
- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy named George Helmy as Menendez's temporary replacement in the Senate.
- Menendez and his wife were found guilty of receiving gifts in exchange for political favors, resulting in Menendez's resignation and impending sentencing.
- Helmy's appointment makes him the sole Arab-American senator in the current Congress session.