Gold Bar Bob's luck finally ran out. After dodging corruption charges in one federal trial a few years ago, Robert Menendez got convicted on all counts in his latest federal trial. Jurors agreed that Menendez sold out for foreign clients and used his office to extort wealth for personal gain.

BREAKING: Sen. Bob Menendez, the former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been found guilty on all counts in bribery scheme. pic.twitter.com/dICFk1IGHv

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 16, 2024

Sen. Bob Menendez on Tuesday was found guilty in his corruption trial, a historic verdict marking a dramatic downfall for New Jersey’s senior senator who was one of the most influential people in Washington, D.C.

The 12-member jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts after a two-month trial on charges that all but ended his political career. Federal prosecutors accused Menendez of bribery, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, obstruction of justice, extortion and conspiring to commit those crimes.

Now everyone wonders whether he''ll resign from the Senate. Scratch that -- people wonder whether he'll end his campaign for another term in the Senate:

He is seeking reelection to the Senate as an independent, although the guilty verdict quickly raises the prospect of an expulsion vote unless he opts to resign from office. He’s already faced calls to resign from his former Democratic allies in New Jersey and on Capitol Hill.

Democrats have tried to nudge Menendez out of the Senate since the feds first seized the gold bars in his home. They weren't subtle about it then either, but Democrat leadership is getting more blunt today:

Immediately after the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in statement called on Menendez to resign.

“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.

Governor Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, went further. If Menendez doesn't resign immediately, he demands that the Senate expel Menendez so that the state of New Jersey can have adequate representation in the Senate:

“I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately after being found guilty of endangering national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system. If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel him. In the event of a vacancy, I will exercise my duty to make a temporary appointment to ensure the people of New Jersey have the representation they deserve.”

That is a fair point. Unfortunately, the Garden State elected Menendez, and the governor has no power to remove him. That has to be done by the Senate if Menendez won't go voluntarily. The seat is up for election anyway in November, with Rep. Andy Kim as the Democrat nominee expected to win it pretty easily. 

But will Menendez go? He doesn't face sentencing until mid-October, and he doesn't appear too anxious to acknowledge the obvious:

Menendez says he “is deeply, deeply disappointed” in the verdict and “will be successful on appeal”

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 16, 2024

So ... stay tuned. The nightmare electoral cycle for Democrats could hardly get worse, and Menendez is more a distraction than a game-changer in either direction. Thus far, Republicans appear happy to let Democrats deal with Menendez, although an expulsion vote would almost certainly win their unanimous support -- if Schumer gets it on the floor.