U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has announced his resignation effective August 20, following his conviction on federal bribery charges. In a letter to Governor Phil Murphy, Menendez expressed his intention to appeal the jury's verdict but chose to resign to avoid distracting the Senate from its work. His resignation allows Governor Murphy to appoint a temporary replacement until the winner of the upcoming election on November 5 assumes office. Menendez was convicted of accepting bribes from three businessmen in exchange for using his influence to benefit them and foreign officials, including actions that allegedly supported the Egyptian government. Despite his conviction, Menendez maintains his innocence, claiming he is a patriot who never acted as a foreign agent. The fallout from his resignation adds pressure to the upcoming election, where Democratic Rep. Andy Kim is favored to succeed him.