Bullet points of Bob Menendez to be replaced by New Jersey governor's former top aide, AP source says

Bullet points of Bob Menendez to be replaced by New Jersey governor's former top aide, AP source says
- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint George Helmy, his former chief of staff, as interim senator when Bob Menendez resigns later this month due to his federal bribery conviction.
- Helmy served as Murphy's top aide from 2019 to 2023 and is now an executive at RWJ Barnabas Health, a large health care provider in the state.
- Menendez, 70, was convicted of selling the power of his office to three New Jersey businessmen who sought various favors, including meddling in state and federal criminal investigations and taking actions that benefited Egypt's government in exchange for bribes.
- Menendez's resignation means Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat, will not receive a boost in seniority if he wins the seat in November's election.
- Menendez's sentencing is scheduled for late October, shortly before the election, and he has announced plans to appeal his conviction.
- Numerous fellow Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, had urged Menendez to resign, and Murphy had urged the Senate to expel him if he didn't quit.
- Only 15 senators have ever been expelled, with the most recent being Sen. William Blount, of Tennessee, who was ousted in 1797 for treason.