TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey interim Sen. George Helmy, a Democrat appointed when Bob Menendez resigned following a federal corruption conviction, is stepping down this weekend so newly elected Sen. Andy Kim can be sworn in early.
The move was expected and confirmed what Helmy and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced during his nomination this summer — that Helmy would resign early so that the winner of the November election would take office before the start of the new session of Congress next month can step.
Explaining the arrangement, Murphy said he wanted the “democratically elected winner” of this year’s election to have a smooth transition into office.
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Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw on Election Day. He will become the first Korean-American in the Senate when he is sworn in on Monday.
Helmy is Murphy’s former chief of staff and has said he was not interested in elected office. He counted voting to confirm twenty judicial appointments and resolving more than a hundred constituent cases among his achievements in just over two months as president.
Helmy said he has worked closely with Kim since his election in November to “ensure a seamless transition.”
Menendez, 70, used his influence to interfere with three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect the businessmen, prosecutors said. They said he helped a friend who paid bribes secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund, and helped another friend retain a contract to provide religious certification for meat destined for Egypt.
Menendez has vowed to challenge the conviction and recently requested a new trial, citing improper evidence placed on a computer used by jurors.
