Embattled and indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., announced Thursday he will not run in the Democratic primary. His Senate seat is up for election this fall.

Menendez has served as one of the state’s two U.S. senators since 2005. He was first appointed to fill the seat of Gov. Jon Corzine, before winning re-election in 2006, 2012 and 2018.

In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges pertaining to a donor. Those charges were ultimately dropped in 2018, after a jury was unable to reach a verdict. Then, this past fall, as NJBIZ has extensively reported, Menendez became ensnared in more legal turmoil. (See a timeline of events below)

Stemming from an alleged corruption and bribery scheme, federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York charged Menendez, his wife and three businessmen in a damning indictment. The complaint revealed alleged wads of cash and gold bars found in the senator’s home as well as other gifts.

Prosecutors allege the Menendez’s received the money and gifts in exchange for favors. Accusations against the senator include using his office and powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (he has since stepped down) to help the Egyptian and Qatari governments in the process.

Menendez has vehemently denied the charges – and reaffirmed his plans to fight them. A trial is slated for later this spring.

Menendez’s message

Menendez had not committed to his re-election plans, though, with the trial looming over the heart of the campaign and the June primary. So far, the seat has drawn a spirited race between U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd District, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and Patricia Campos-Medina.

On Thursday, Menendez further revealed his plans in a video posted on social media.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to represent you in the United States Senate. If you told me, growing up poor in a tenement in Union City – the son of refugees, the first of my family to go to college – that I could grow up to be one of 100 United States Senators in a country of 330 million people – I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” said Menendez. “But it is the promise of America fulfilled. It’s that history and that promise for the future that I would want to bring to a reelection for the United States Senate.

“Unfortunately, the present accusations I am facing, of which I am innocent, and will prove so – will not allow me to have that type of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign,” he added.

Menendez said that New Jerseyans deserve better than that.

“You deserve to hear from those who wish to represent you about what they would do for you and your families in the future,” Menendez continued. “Therefore, I will not file for the Democratic primary this June.”

Down but not out?

But he did leave the door cracked on a potential running.

“I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer – and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an Independent Democrat in the general election,” said Menendez. “I know many of you are hurt and disappointed in me with the accusations I am facing. Believe me, I am disappointed at the false accusations as well. All I can ask of you is to withhold judgement until justice takes place.”

The Democratic primary candidates responded to Menendez’s announcement.

“I am ready to serve as your next US Senator! We need Latino representation in our federal seats,” said Campos-Medina in a post on X.

“I will win in November even if I have to beat Menendez and a Republican simultaneously,” Kim wrote in a post on X. “The balance of the Senate is on the line and we need the strongest candidate possible to keep this seat blue and the Senate in Democratic control.”

“New Jersey needs a Senator focused on solving the challenges facing our families – affordability, reproductive rights, gun safety and the ability to live the American Dream – and that’s exactly what I’ll do,” said Murphy in a post on X. “Senator Menendez continues to place himself ahead of what’s best for New Jerseyans and the Democratic Party as a whole. He shouldn’t have the privilege of serving in the Senate in any capacity.”

Across the aisle

Republican primary candidates weighed in as well.

“Bob Menendez can run but he can’t hide from a legacy of corruption,” Alex Zdan, former News 12 New Jersey reporter and anchor, wrote in a post on X. “Dems like Phil and Tammy Murphy stood by him until they saw a chance to serve their ambition. I’m the best choice to prosecute the whole Democratic party on the debate stage this fall.”

“I welcome ‘Gold Bar Bob’s’ announcement about the Senate race in New Jersey. As I’ve said from the beginning, Menendez should have to face the voters and the people of New Jersey should have the opportunity to repudiate him – and the corruption and cronyism of the Democratic Party as a whole – at the ballot box,” said Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner in a statement.