Sen. Mark Kelly wants Sen. Bob Menendez to resign. Is that honorable, stupid or both?

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly joined a growing number of prominent Democrats calling for indicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, a fellow Democrat, to resign.

In a statement on Tuesday Kelly said, “Senator Menendez has the same constitutional rights and presumption of innocence as any other American.

“However, serving as a U.S. Senator is a position of public trust. These are serious and alarming allegations of corruption and bribery involving his service in the United States Senate.

“That’s a breach of that trust and a burden I believe will prevent him from fully serving. He should resign.”

Politicians like Menendez should resign

Kelly’s remarks echo many other Democrats, including the other Democratic senator from New Jersey, Cory Booker, who said in part, “I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”

It is difficult, if not impossible, for an elected official to adequately perform all the duties of office given the demands and distractions of being under indictment.

And there is the erosion of trust among citizens that comes with finding yourself on the wrong side of the law.

And there is, in simple but profound terms, honor.

All of the comments about being innocent until proven guilty are 100% true, but the honorable thing to do, the way to be true to the oath of office and to treat with respect the institution you’ve sworn to serve would be for an indicted politician to resign.

Trump changed the rules about honor

So I would expect more Democrats to come forward like Sen. Kelly.

Meantime, Republicans will sit back, silent, smiling and thinking to themselves … suckers.

Whatever sense of personal honor and respect for elected office the GOP once had — like the days when Barry Goldwater and other Republicans let President Richard Nixon know that he had to go — it is long gone.

Their Dear Leader changed that.

Perhaps forever.

Donald Trump has been charged with so many criminal offenses it is difficult to keep track.

There is the case in New York involving hush money paid to a porn star. There is the Georgia case of trying to alter 2020 election results.

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There are multiple federal charges involving national defense documents and election interference that included what prosecutors called attempts “to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol.”

It goes on.

Republicans condemn none of their own

Did any of that lead to a groundswell of condemnation from Republican office holders saying Donald Trump should not run again for office?

No. Not as long as Trump continues to be worshiped by the MAGA crowd.

So, Republicans also tolerate elected officials like New York Republican Rep. George Santos, who is facing 13 felony counts that include money laundering, wire fraud and theft of public funds.

And they tolerate Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar when he goes on an unhinged homophobic rant against Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, suggesting that Milley should be “hung.”

Under the cult-like reign of Donald Trump there is no offense — none — that would cause a Republican who is in the good graces of Trump to be condemned.

Is Sen. Kelly being honorable or stupid?

Democrats, on the other hand, still seem to believe that a criminal indictment is sufficient reason for a politician to take himself out of the game.

That is actually how our moral principles, even in politcs, used to work.

But in the year 2023, does holding onto old-fashioned values like that make Democrats like Kelly honorable? Or stupid? Or both?

For my own selfish peace of mind, please … don’t answer that.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mark Kelly wants Bob Menendez to resign. Is that honorable or stupid?