In a much-anticipated move, Senator Bob Menendez's resignation from the US Senate became official on Tuesday following his conviction on bribery charges in July. The 70-year-old senator, who has maintained his innocence, faces a potentially lengthy prison term at his sentencing in October. Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, has expressed plans to appeal the verdict.

Despite initial resistance to calls for his resignation, Menendez ultimately decided to step down to avoid becoming a distraction. In a letter addressed to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy last month, the former lawmaker expressed his desire to spare the Senate from a lengthy process that would detract from its important work. Governor Murphy, also a Democrat, is expected to appoint Menendez's close ally, his former chief of staff George Samir Helmy, as a temporary replacement until the November election.

On Monday, Menendez filed a 30-page motion urging a federal judge to dismiss the guilty verdict, marking the first step in what could be a protracted appeals process. The filing claimed that sustaining the convictions would set a dangerous precedent based on "surprisingly thin reed of evidence". Menendez, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 before being appointed to the Senate in 2006, hopes to have all his convictions reversed.

During the nine-week trial earlier this year, prosecutors revealed that FBI agents had discovered over $480,000 in cash concealed in envelopes and coats at Menendez's residence, along with gold bars worth more than $100,000. Some of the bullion was presented as evidence. Prosecutors also attempted to shift blame onto Menendez's wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, insinuating that she was financially troubled and willing to obtain cash and assets by any means necessary. Mrs. Menendez also faces bribery charges, though her trial was postponed due to her undergoing breast cancer treatment. She has pleaded not guilty.

The resignation of Senator Menendez marks a significant development in US politics, leaving a vacant Senate seat in New Jersey. As the legal battle continues, the focus now shifts to the upcoming special election in November, where a replacement will be elected to fulfill the remainder of Menendez's term. The outcome of the trial and subsequent appeals process has caught the attention of political pundits, making it a case with potentially far-reaching implications in US jurisprudence.

It remains to be seen how this latest development will impact Senator Menendez's political career and the political landscape in New Jersey. As the future unfolds, these events may shape the legacy of a senator who has served in Congress for over two decades.