ABC News reported that New Jersey Republican Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty to obstruction of justice charges in a new federal indictment.

While most Democrats have had relatively little to say about the allegations against Menendez, one member of the party is calling for his ouster. 

"What does it say about this institution that he’s still serving in here?"

According to Mediaite, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman expressed the view during an interview on Monday with CNN host Manu Raju.

Fetterman complained of how it is "clear that my colleagues want to keep him [Menendez] around. And now we have his trial in less than two months and that’s going to handle it."

Sen John Fetterman (D-PA) to CNN’s @mkraju on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ):

“He’s got to go … And that arrogance, where he’s now saying, ‘I’m not going anywhere’ — it’s like, my dude, you are going somewhere. It’s going to be an election or it’s going to be a conviction.” pic.twitter.com/Eo6YmYsjzP

— The Recount (@therecount) September 28, 2023

When Raju asked, "What does it say about this institution that he’s still serving in here?" Fetterman was scathing in his reply.

"It's going to be an election or it’s going to be a conviction"

"I don’t know what it says other than that they're just okay with having a sleazeball in the Senate," the freshman senator remarked,

"He's gotta go," Fetterman insisted. "And this arrogance...where he's now saying, 'I'm not going anywhere.' It's like, my dude, you are going somewhere. It’s going to be an election or it’s going to be a conviction."

Menendez's legal problems began this past September when the Department of Justice indicted him and his wife, Nadine Menendez, along with co-defendants Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe on bribery and corruption charges.

Federal authorities say that FBI agents discovered nearly $480,000 in cash at Menendez's home along with $100,000 worth of gold bars.

Earlier corruption trial ended in mistrial

"The FBI has made investigating public corruption a top priority since our founding — nothing has changed," FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said in a statement.

"The alleged conduct in this conspiracy damages the public’s faith in our system of government and brings undue scorn to the honest and dedicated public servants who carry out their duties on a daily basis," Smith declared.

"To those inclined to use the status of their public office for personal benefit, or those willing to provide bribes in an attempt to gain influence from a public official, the FBI will ensure that you face the consequences in the criminal justice system for your underhanded dealings," he added.

This is not the first time Menendez has faced criminal charges; in 2017 an earlier corruption trial ended with a mistrial.