Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) filed nominating signature papers on June 3 to seek another term in the Senate, this time as an independent. The deadline for submitting signatures is June 4.
The New Jersey Division of Elections website shows that Mr. Menendez turned in 2,465 signatures. Independent Senate candidates need just 800 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.
In March, Mr. Menendez announced that he would not enter the Democratic primary but would consider running as an independent.
He was appointed to his seat in 2006 to fill the term of Jon Corzine, who resigned after being elected Governor of New Jersey.
Mr. Menendez, 70, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, 56, are at the center of an ongoing bribery case. Mr. Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently on trial, and Ms. Menendez’s trial starts in July.
According to the Department of Justice, between 2018 and 2022, the Menendezes engaged in a corrupt relationship with Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes—three New Jersey businessmen who collectively paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including cash, gold, a Mercedes Benz, and other things of value—in exchange for Mr. Menendez’s agreeing to use his power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen and to benefit the Government of Egypt.
The indictment, unsealed Sept. 22, 2023, included photographs of evidence seized from an FBI search of the Menendez home that the FBI called “fruits of this bribery scheme,” including cash, gold, the luxury convertible, and home furnishings. More than $480,000 in cash was found stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe, with some of that money in personal clothing owned by Mr. Menendez, with his name sewn on the clothing, according to the allegations in the indictment. On a separate search warrant over $70,000 in cash was discovered in Ms. Menendez’s safe deposit box.
Mr. Menendez has maintained his innocence and said he will prove it. On March 31, he released a 10-minute video listing his accomplishments while serving as a U.S. Senator for 19 years.
He said political opponents have made the bribery charges the cornerstone of their campaign.
“New Jerseyans deserve better than that. We deserve to hear from those who wish to represent you about what they would do for you and your families in the future,” Mr. Menendez said in March. “I know many of you are hurt and disappointed in me with the accusations I’m facing. Believe me, I am disappointed at the false accusations as well. All I can ask of you is to withhold judgment until justice takes place.
Until then, I will continue to work my heart out each and every day, as I have for the past 19 years.”
Mr. Menendez’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.
Mr. Menendez’s reentry in the race makes it a three-way battle, pitting him against the top Democrat from the primary election, likely U.S. Rep. Andy Kim; and the leading Republican in the primary, either Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, or Hotelier and developer Curtis Bashaw.
