Menendez says he will appeal guilty verdict ‘all the way’ to Supreme Court

Convicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) says he plans to appeal his guilty verdict on 16 charges ranging from bribery and extortion to obstruction of justice “all the way” to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Menendez said in a letter dated July 23 to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and the Senate confirmed, that he will resign from the Senate effective Aug. 20, but he’s not admitting any guilt.

Instead, Menendez said he plans to appeal the verdict but cited concerns that he cannot fully preserve his legal rights if the Senate Ethics Committee conducts an adjudicatory review, which would likely result in a recommendation to expel or censure the New Jersey senator.

“While I fully intend to appeal the jury’s verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work,” he wrote.

“Furthermore, I cannot preserve my rights upon a successful appeal, because factual matters before the ethics committee are not privileged,” he explained. “This is evidenced by the committee’s staff director and chief counsel being called to testify at my trial.”

Menendez, who was appointed to his Senate seat in 2006 to finish the term of Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), said he is proud of the “many accomplishments I’ve had on behalf of New Jersey,” such as leading the federal effort to help the state recover from Superstorm Sandy.

The Senate Ethics Committee on Monday announced it would begin an adjudicatory review of Menendez conviction, which would lay the groundwork for future votes to expel or censure the senator.

Ethics Chairman Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Vice Chairman James Lankford (R-Okla.) said in a joint statement that the committee anticipated “completing the adjudicatory review promptly.”