Incumbent New Jersey Senator George Helmy resigns so Andy Kim can be sworn in early

Interim New Jersey Sen. George Helmy, a Democrat who was appointed when Bob Menendez resigned after a federal corruption conviction, is stepping down this weekend

TRENTON, N.J. – Interim New Jersey Senator George Helmy, a Democrat who was appointed when Bob Menendez resigned following a federal corruption conviction, is stepping down this weekend so that Senator-elect Andy Kim can be sworn in early.

The move was expected and confirmed what Helmy and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy had announced when he was appointed this summer – that Helmy would resign early so that the winner of November’s election could take office before the start of the new session of Congress next month.

Explaining the agreement, Murphy said he wanted the “democratically elected winner” of this year’s election to have a smooth transition into office.

Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw on Election Day. He will be the first Korean-American in the Senate when he is sworn in on Monday.

Helmy is a former chief of staff to Murphy and has said he is not interested in seeking elected office. He counted voting to confirm 20 judicial nominations and resolving more than 100 election cases among his accomplishments in just over two months in office.

Helmy said he has been working closely with Kim since his election in November to “ensure a seamless transition.”

Menendez, 70, used his influence to interfere in three separate state and federal criminal investigations to protect the businessmen, prosecutors said. They said he helped a bribe-paying friend close a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and helped another honor a contract to sell meat destined for Egypt with a religious certificate to exhibit.

Menendez has vowed to fight the conviction and recently requested a new trial, citing inadmissible evidence stored on a computer used by the jury.