MENENDEZ, Robert, (father of Robert Menendez), a Senator and a Representative from New Jersey; born in New York, N.Y., on January 1, 1954; graduated from Union Hill High School, Union City, N.J., 1972; B.A., Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, N.J., 1976; J.D., Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, N.J., 1979; lawyer, private practice; member of the Union City, N.J., board of education 1974-1978, and chief financial officer 1978-1982; mayor of Union City, N.J., 1986-1992; member of the New Jersey state general assembly 1987-1991; member of the New Jersey state senate 1991-1993; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the six succeeding Congresses, and served from January 3, 1993, to January 16, 2006, when he resigned to become a U.S. senator; chair, House Democratic Caucus (One Hundred Eighth through One Hundred Ninth Congresses); appointed on January 17, 2006, to the United States Senate to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Jon S. Corzine; service began on January 17, 2006, and took the oath of office on January 18, 2006; elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 for the term commencing January 3, 2007; reelected in 2012, and again in 2018 for the term ending January 3, 2025; chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2008-2011), Committee on Foreign Relations (One Hundred Thirteenth Congress [February 1, 2013-January 3, 2015], One Hundred Seventeenth and One Hundred Eighteenth Congresses). In July 2024, Menendez was convicted of 16 counts — including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent — for his role in a years long bribery scheme. Sen. Bob Menendez resigned his seat effective August 20, 2024. September 9, 2024, New Jersey Sen. George Helmy (D) was sworn in to fill the remainder of former Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D) term in office.
