Pete Aguilar, top-ranking House Latino, calls on Menendez to resign

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.) on Wednesday joined calls for embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign, questioning the senator’s claims that racism played a role in the allegations against him.

Aguilar, the highest-ranking House Latino, joined a growing list of Democrats calling for the resignation of Menendez, the highest-ranking Senate Latino.

“I think Senator Menendez, just like every American, is due the opportunity to have a fair trial,” Aguilar told reporters at the weekly caucus press conference.

“He has an incredible track record — over 50 years of service to folks in New Jersey. He has lifted up issues that the Latino community cares about time and time again. It doesn’t bring me or any of us joy to say that he should resign, but he should.”

Menendez, who was indicted on bribery charges, is facing an increasingly uphill battle to retain his seat, as Democrats, including New Jersey’s junior senator, Cory Booker, and the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) join calls for him to resign.

Like Booker, Aguilar made the case that Menendez would be better off fighting the charges outside of Congress.

“For the betterment of the Democratic Party and for the people of New Jersey, it’s better that he fights this trial outside of the halls of Congress,” said Aguilar.

Menendez has vehemently denied the charges, and has said his origins as the son of Cuban immigrants played a role in prosecutors’ zeal against him.

Aguilar dismissed that claim flat-out.

“I’d also say that Latinos face barriers and discrimination across the board in so many categories, including in our justice system. This is not that,” said Aguilar.

—Mychael Schnell contributed.