Letter - People Power United joins coalition efforts to urge Senator Menendez to resign

🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.

People Power United joined other local, state, and national groups to urge Senator Menendez to resign. Shout out to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) for leading these efforts. Here is the letter sent on behalf of our membership to Senator Menendez:

Senator Robert Menendez

528 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

October 23, 2023

Senator Menendez:

We are a group of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations representing millions of Americans nationwide committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy and building an ethical and accountable government. Many of us have worked hard to pass transformative democracy reform including meaningful ethics reform by supporting legislation like the For the People Act. It is with that background and purpose in mind that we write today to encourage you to resign your Senate position.

The federal indictment unsealed against you on September 22nd - the second during your career in the Senate - alleges a litany of misconduct and corruption. It contains evidence implicating you in various schemes to profit off your position of trust in violation of your oath of office. This includes your alleged participation, as you were ranking member and then chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, in a scheme to help the government of Egypt secure American taxpayer money and American-built weapons while its authoritarian ruler was unlawfully detaining and torturing American citizens. These allegations paint a damning picture of a senator who seemingly repeatedly placed his own personal interests above the United States’ national security and democratic process.

You are, of course, entitled to a presumption of innocence and a fair trial to contest these charges. It is your right as an American. However, we believe it is inappropriate for you to remain in office while you exercise this right. The people of New Jersey chose you to represent their interests in our government, and to legislate and regulate on their behalf.

Unfortunately, your alleged actions make it impossible for your constituents to trust that you will do so. They deserve a senator they can trust to act on their behalf, without suspicion of your conflicts of interest or attempts to enrich yourself.

Moreover, your indictment - and the actions of other current and former public servants who also trade public trust for private profit - are leading to plunging faith in our democracy, with a majority of Americans believing that our government is corrupt. Ridding our government of corruption in all corners - or even the perception of corruption - is crucial to our democratic survival and national security.

Your resignation would also help secure your legacy as a public servant. You have been a leader in the fight to fix our broken immigration system, you’ve been part of major victories for clean energy and the environment, and you’ve helped millions of Americans obtain affordable and high quality healthcare. If you resign now you will leave that legacy largely intact. If you refuse, your decision to cling to power without regard for the harm your continued presence is doing to your constituents and to the institution of the Senate, will be your legacy.

We encourage you to demonstrate a commitment to our democracy and ethical leadership by resigning your position.

Kind regards,

Alliance for Cuba Engagement and Respect (ACERE)

Anti-Corruption Data Collective

Center for American Progress

Center for International Policy

Chop Wood, Carry Water Daily Actions

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)

CODEPINK

Daily Kos

Declaration for American Democracy Coalition

Demand Progress

DemCast USA

The Digital Democracy Project

End Citizens United//Let America Vote Action Fund

Free Speech For People

Golden Goose Kitchen

Indivisible Clackamas, 350 PDX

Lawyers Defending American Democracy

League of Conservation Voters

MoveOn

Oregonizers

Peace Action

People Power United

Progressive Change Institute

Protect Democracy

Project On Government Oversight (POGO)

Public Citizen

Stand Up America