White House says Menendez’s future ‘is up to the Senate body’ amid calls for resignation

The White House has continued to split the difference when it comes to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

Some Democrats are calling for Menendez to resign amid a corruption scandal, but the Biden administration is simply calling it a “serious matter” while saying the bigger questions should be left to Congress.

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“There are more than a handful of senators who are now calling on him to resign,” a reporter asked press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Does the president still think [Menendez] can be a good public servant in the face of these allegations?”

Jean-Pierre did not speak directly to the president’s thoughts on the matter.

“That is up to the Senate body,” she said. “That is up to the Senate leadership, and that is up to Sen. Menendez. But again, we see this indeed as a serious matter.”

As she did on Monday, Jean-Pierre praised Menendez’s decision to step down from his committee chairmanship (reportedly the source of the influence that allowed his illicit deeds) but made no declarative statements about what should happen next.

Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are among the Democrats calling for Menendez to step down. But the senator has struck a defiant tone, noting he will remain in office, hinting that he will seek reelection next year, and saying that racism is behind the charges.

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The reporter also asked if Menendez staying in office would erode the public trust.

“I can’t speak to the public trust,” Jean-Pierre responded. “What I can speak to is this president, at least as it relates to the Senate. That’s for Senate leadership to speak to. That’s for Sen. Menendez to speak to, about how the public views the work that they’re doing and how they’re moving forward.”