New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez is facing mounting calls for his resignation from key figures in his party after being charged with accepting bribes. Among those demanding his immediate resignation is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a high-profile Democratic U.S. Representative from New York, who on Sunday labeled the charges against Menendez as “extremely serious.”

Menendez, who has served in the Senate since 2006, stands accused of accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury vehicle, and other gifts. Additional allegations suggest he used his authority to side with the autocratic government in Egypt and exerted pressure on federal prosecutors to waive a case involving a friend. The senator denies the allegations, asserting his intent to remain in office.

Joining Ocasio-Cortez in calls for Menendez’s resignation was John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senator, and the first from the party to publicly demand Menendez’s resignation. This urges only heightened after a Democratic congressman from New Jersey, Andy Kim, announced his intent to challenge Menendez in the upcoming primary election.

Over time, the chorus of voices demanding Menendez’s exit has only grown louder. New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has now added his voice to the growing list of those requesting the senator’s resignation. Eager to focus efforts on the forthcoming elections, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, another New Jersey Democrat, echoed the reignited demand during a recent CNN interview.

Alleged to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, the indictment against Menendez identifies three New Jersey businessmen as the sources of the bribes. The FBI stated that a significant amount of cash, along with a substantial quantity of gold allegedly provided by the businessman Fred Daibes, was found in the senator’s home.

Sarcastically quoting Menendez’s defiant claim of “not going anywhere,” Congressman Kim announced his intent to run against Menendez in the 2024 primary election. In the lieu of the serious allegations against the senator and the subsequent calls for his resignation, Kim asserted his belief that New Jersey deserves better leadership.