For the better part of a year, longtime New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez insisted that he would run for another term in office despite being plagued by a bribery scandal.

However, Menedez ended his reelection campaign last week amid growing pressure to drop out of the race.  

"I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot"

According to the Washington Examiner, Menendez made the announcement on Friday, which was the final deadline for him to withdraw his candidacy.

NEWS: Convicted Senator Bob Menendez just took himself off the ballot and will no longer run for reelection as an Independent pic.twitter.com/LBrgsX2n4F

— Kate Santaliz (@kate_santaliz) August 16, 2024

"By means of this email please be advised that as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in this November’s election I am advising you that I wish to have my name withdrawn from the ballot," he wrote in a message to Donna Barber, who serves as acting director of New Jersey's Division of Elections.

Fox News reported that Menendez filed to run as an independent Senate candidate in June after failing to secure the Democratic Party's nomination.

In addition to ending his campaign, Menendez also resigned his Senate seat. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to appoint former chief of staff George Helmy to serve out the remainder of Menendez' term.

Large amounts of cash and gold found in FBI raid

The senator was convicted on 16 federal charges last month over his involvement in a corruption scheme involving the government of Egypt.

A Department of Justice (DOJ) press release put out last fall stated that FBI agents discovered nearly $480,000 in cash along with $100,000 worth of gold bars during a raid on Menendez's home.

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

"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 added.

Chuck Schumer previously demanded Menendez's departure

Politico reported that Menendez's conviction prompted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to call for his departure.

"In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign," Schumer said.

Menendez had long faced opposition from Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who once called his colleague "a sleazeball."