Bob Menendez planning luxurious donor retreat in Puerto Rico for reelection

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is planning a luxurious donor retreat in Puerto Rico to discuss his reelection in 2024, even as half of Senate Democrats have urged him to resign after he was indicted for alleged corruption.

The news further signals that Menendez has no plans of resigning and believes that he has a good chance of beating the indictment. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges revolving around accusations that he used his political status to aid the government of Egypt and three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for significant wealth. He addressed his colleagues in a closed-door meeting Thursday, during which he affirmed his innocence.

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The New Millennium political action committee, linked to the embattled senator, is holding a retreat at a Ritz-Carlton hotel at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico in two weeks, CNN reported. The PAC reaffirmed that the trip was still taking place on Thursday, following the closed-door meeting with Senate Democrats.

The two-day retreat will include a golf outing at a championship-level course, where donors can play alongside Menendez.

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The news that the retreat will go ahead is perhaps the best indication since his indictment that the New Jersey Democrat will seek reelection. While he didn’t explicitly speak of his political future at Thursday’s meeting, senators present told CNN that they came away with the impression that he would be seeking reelection.

The prospect of Menendez running for reelection has caused concerns among Democrats, who fear that it could jeopardize their hold on a solid-blue Senate seat.