Taking his vocal criticism of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., to a new level, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., introduced a resolution that would ban the New Jersey Democrat — who was indicted on federal corruption charges in September — from having access to classified briefings and documents and serving on committees.
The resolution does not specifically name any Senator but would apply to any member of the upper chamber facing the charges that have been brought against Menendez. And it comes just a day after the now former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair attended the committee’s classified briefing on Ukraine.
Specifically, the resolution introduced this week would bar anyone who faces federal charges of improperly handling classified information, acting as a foreign agent or compromising U.S. national security from receiving classified information, serving on any committee, submitting spending requests for bills and using official funds for international travel.
Mendendez, who has served in the Senate for nearly two decades, was indicted in September for allegedly accepting gifts and money from three businessmen in exchange for his influence over foreign affairs. Last month, federal prosecutors added a new charge against the New Jersey Democrat, accusing him of conspiring to act as an agent of the Egyptian government.
Fetterman was the first Senator to call for Menendez’s resignation and has been one of his most outspoken critics. The Pennsylvania senator took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to call Menendez, whose approval rating in New Jersey is at 8%, "officially less popular than cold sores,” referencing a recent Stockton University poll.
Menendez stepped down from his role as chair of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee following his indictment, as required by Senate Democrats’ bylaws and more than half of the Democrats in the upper chamber have called on him to resign from Congress entirely.
Earlier this week, Menendez defended his decision to attend a classified Senate Foreign Relations Committee briefing on Ukraine.
“Bottom line is: I am a United States Senator, I have my security credentials and an accusation is just that. It’s not proof of anything,” Menendez told reporters.
The New Jersey Democrat has denied any wrongdoing.
For its part, the White House declined to comment on Menendez attending the briefing, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters during Thursday's briefing: “Just not going to get into that from here. But obviously, we take this very seriously.”