Democratic senators are discussing the potential expulsion of Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Henry Cuellar, who are both currently facing corruption charges. Menendez is on trial for allegedly abusing his office to benefit foreign governments, while Cuellar is facing federal bribery charges. House Democratic leaders are facing a dilemma as they decide how to handle Cuellar’s case, especially since they had previously called for the expulsion of another indicted member, George Santos, before his trial had concluded. However, they are hesitant to call for Cuellar’s resignation until his case is resolved.
Democratic leaders in the House have refrained from demanding Cuellar’s resignation, leading some members who pushed for Santos’ expulsion to defend their decision. They emphasize the difference in the situations, with Santos admitting to a crime, while Cuellar is still maintaining his innocence and disputing the charges against him. There is a sense of urgency among Democrats to address Cuellar’s situation appropriately, given the seriousness of the allegations against him.
While House Democratic leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach with Cuellar’s case, the potential expulsion of Menendez may come sooner in the Senate. Menendez could become only the 16th senator ever expelled if convicted, with the last expulsion occurring in 1862. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators have not explicitly commented on whether they support expelling Menendez, but some, including Sen. Jon Tester, have indicated they may change their stance if he is convicted. Vulnerable Democrats like Bob Casey and Sherrod Brown are waiting for the trial to conclude before taking a position on a potential expulsion.
Some senators, like Michael Bennet, have stated that Menendez should be expelled if convicted, while others, like Elizabeth Warren, have called for his resignation but have not explicitly endorsed expulsion. There is a variety of opinions among Democratic senators regarding Menendez’s possible expulsion, reflecting the complex political and ethical considerations at play. As the cases of Menendez and Cuellar unfold, Democratic leaders are grappling with how to navigate these challenging situations without compromising their stance on ethics and accountability within their party.
