Democratic Senator-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the higher chamber of Congress early on Sunday following his election win final month.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, introduced on Sunday that he appointed Kim to the U.S. Senate following the official certification of the 2024 election outcomes by the state board of canvassers and Sen. George Helmy’s resignation on Thursday. Helmy, a former chief of workers to Murphy, was sworn into the Senate in September after Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was convicted in a federal corruption trial and resigned from the Senate a month prior.
Kim defeated GOP businessman Curtis Bashaw by almost 10 proportion factors in November’s election.
“Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term in office before the new year begins,” Murphy mentioned in a press release. “Taking this step will allow Senator Kim to embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey.”
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks to delegates in Paramus, N.J., March 4, 2024. (AP Picture/Seth Wenig, File)
Murphy congratulated Kim “for making history as the first Asian American Senator from New Jersey and as the first Korean American Senator in the nation.”
“His election represents a proud milestone – not just for our great state, but for our entire country,” Murphy mentioned. “I look forward to working with Senator Kim to continue lowering costs for New Jerseyans, defending our fundamental freedoms, and building a stronger and fairer state for every family.”
Kim, who can be sworn in on Monday, mentioned it’s an honor “to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate.”
“It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for,” Kim, who represented New Jersey’s third Congressional District within the Home, mentioned. “I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator Helmy for ensuring that New Jersey was well represented during this transition, and look forward to getting to work for the people.”
Senate Majority Leade Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., meets with newly elected Democratic senators, together with Sen.-elect Andy Kim on Nov. 12, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs)
In a press release asserting his resignation Thursday, Helmy mentioned he and Kim “have worked closely since his being elected to ensure a seamless transition and I have made myself readily available over the coming weeks to support this process.”
“It has been the honor of a lifetime representing the people of New Jersey in the Senate, and I am eternally grateful to Governor Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Helmy mentioned. “The voters of New Jersey made the right decision in November to elect Andy Kim to serve as their United States Senator. Having known him for nearly a decade now, I can attest to Senator Kim’s great dedication, character, and empathy towards the people of New Jersey.”
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., leaves Manhattan federal courtroom on July 16, 2024. (MEGA/GC Photographs)
In his transient 85 days in workplace, Helmy touted how he launched and co-sponsored over 30 payments, together with 5 resolutions that handed the Senate Chamber, maintained an ideal voting file, together with the affirmation of 20 federal judicial nominees, “advocated for youth mental health and supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon,” and efficiently nominated 48 New Jersey candidates to the 4 United States Army Academies.
Menendez was convicted in July on all 16 counts he confronted in a federal corruption trial. Prosecutors alleged he accepted a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} of bribes, together with gold, money, and a Mercedes-Benz, in change for utilizing his affect to meddle in state and federal investigations concerning three businessmen. The now-former senator is alleged to have additionally helped one buddy get hold of a multi-million-dollar cope with a Qatari funding fund and one other retain a contract to offer halal meat to Egypt.
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Menendez requested for a brand new trial and for his conviction to be dismissed final week, citing what he argued was improper proof considered by jurors throughout deliberations.
