In a significant move following Senator Bob Menendez’s conviction on 18 charges, a New Jersey town has decided to change the name of Robert Menendez Elementary School. Menendez was found guilty of bribery, conspiracy, fraud, and making false statements after a nine-week federal corruption trial in July.
The school, originally named by former Mayor Felix Roque in 2013 to honor the senator, will revert to its original name, PS #3, as confirmed by Mayor Albio Sires. The name change is set to take place before the start of the new school year.
Roque had renamed the school as a gesture to appease Menendez, who he fell out with after the senator endorsed his Republican opponent in the 2012 election.
This is not the first instance of a convicted politician’s name being removed from a New Jersey institution. The Harrison A. Williams, Jr. Metropark train station was renamed after the senator faced federal charges in 1981.
Despite his conviction, Menendez, who has served as a senator since 2006, continues to maintain his innocence, stating that he has never violated his public oath or acted as a foreign agent.
The senator is expected to resign next month, with Governor Phil Murphy tasked with appointing a successor. Some potential candidates include New Jersey Democratic Representative Andy Kim, Attorney General Matt Platkin, Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino, progressive community leader Loretta Weinberg, political insider Jeannine LaRue, and Cannabis Regulatory Commission Chair Dianne Houenou.
Menendez’s sentencing is scheduled for October 29. Additionally, businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes also faced convictions in the trial. Menendez’s wife, Nadine, who was also implicated in the scheme, had her trial postponed due to health issues. Robert Menendez had revealed that his wife was battling breast cancer during his trial in May.
In a previous corruption trial in 2017, Menendez faced a hung jury. The recent conviction marks a significant development in the senator’s political career.