Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) today blasted Bob Menendez, who is on trial for allegedly accepting bribes, for making a final push to salvage his U.S. Senate seat by running as an independent.
“Americans are fed up with politicians putting their own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country. Everyone knows Bob Menendez isn’t running for the people of New Jersey, he’s doing it for himself,” said Kim. “It’s beyond time for change, and I’m stepping up to restore integrity back into the U.S. Senate.”
The Menendez camp has notified the state Division of Elections that a senator’s representative will file nominating petitions today.
The New Jersey Globe has confirmed that Menendez will file with over 2,000 signatures – more than double the 800 he needs to get on the November ballot.
Menendez has been collecting signatures himself, along with a small group of old friends in North Hudson.
Kim heads into tomorrow’s primary as the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination. The three-term congressman and former Obama White House staffer was the first major Democrat to call for Menendez’s resignation on September 22, the day the Justice Department announced its indictment of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman; the following day, Kim announced that he would challenge Menendez.