TRENTON, N.J. (NEWSnet) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will resign from office on Aug. 20 after being convicted of accepting bribes of cash, gold and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen.

The resignation gives New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy the ability to appoint someone to the senate for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which expires on Jan. 3. The seat was already up for election on Nov. 5.

Democrats have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Kim. He faces Republican Curtis Bashaw.

During the trial, prosecutors said Menendez abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Menendez, 70, did not testify. He insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a post he was forced to relinquish after charges were brought. He said gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife.

After his conviction, Menendez denied all of those allegations, saying “I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent.”

A number of Senate Democrats had previously called for Menendez to resign; and after the verdict was issued, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also called for his resignation.

Menendez faces the possibility of decades in prison. A judge scheduled his sentencing on Oct. 29, a week before the election.

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