Menendez will hold press conference on Monday

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez will hold a press conference on Monday morning in Hudson County, where he grew up and where he launched his political career as a 20-year-old school board member, making his first public comments since his indictment on federal corruption charges on Friday.

Menendez is not expected to resign, but rather take a defiant stand against the allegations against him, the New Jersey Globe has learned.  Indeed, he is expected to double-down and say he plans to seek re-election in 2024, even if he needs to run off the organization line.

That is consistent with Menendez’s two statements on Friday; the later one was made after Gov. Phil Murphy and a large group of Democratic party leaders and elected officials publicly called for his resignation.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), a three-term congressman and former Obama White House staffer, announced on Saturday that he would challenge Menendez in the Democratic primary.  Lawrence Hamm, a former Newark school board member and chairman of a social justice advocacy group, the People’s Organization for Progress,” has also entered the race.

The location for Menendez’s press conference is still undetermined.  Menendez had asked to use the Colin Powell Elementary School in Union City, where he grew up and served as mayor, but school officials didn’t want the distraction since the school is open tomorrow.   Menendez’s office had initially invited people to the school and are now looking for a new location.

It’s also not clear how many elected officials Menendez will be able to muster to stand with him at the press conference.

On Friday, Menenedez postponed his 13th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration that was scheduled for today.  Lin Manuel Miranda was set to join Menendez at the event.