The embattled U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) appears ready to run for reelection, despite being in the thick of his federal corruption trial, according to a national news report. But whether he decides to do so remains to be seen.
NBC News on Thursday reported that Menendez has secured enough signatures to run as an independent candidate in the U.S. Senate race. Citing multiple sources close to the 70-year-old Democrat, the outlet said he’s secured the minimum of 800 signatures required for his election petition. But it also reported that the indicted senator wants to reach closer to 10,000 by the June 4 filing deadline, adding to his hopes to use the number of signatures as a “statement” to “show the level of support he still has.”
Menendez has yet to announce whether he will seek reelection, but he’s already lost the support of establishment Democrats in the state who’ve lined up behind candidate and current Rep. Andy Kim’s bid to replace him.
The news of the senator’s eligibility comes as Menendez entered Day 10 of his bribery trial, where prosecutors were in the thick of trying to prove he engaged in a quid pro quo.
