TRENTON — The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit Monday in Mercer County Superior Court seeking a court order that would permanently disqualify former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez from holding any state or municipal office in New Jersey.

The lawsuit, submitted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), asks the court to confirm that Menendez is permanently barred from running for, applying for, or occupying public office within the state. The filing also warns that any attempt to do so would be grounds for contempt of court.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement, “Bob Menendez abused his high-ranking position in the U.S. Senate for his own personal and financial benefit, betraying the people who elected him and the oath he swore to serve their interests and not his own.”

The legal action draws on precedent involving former Paterson Mayor Joey Torres, who was convicted of contempt earlier this year. Torres had sought re-election in 2022 despite a prior court order disqualifying him from holding public office, a move the court deemed a violation of its ruling.

State officials cited Torres’ case as a clear basis for taking similar action against Menendez, whose federal bribery and corruption charges have sparked efforts to legally bar him from public roles in New Jersey going forward.

If the court grants the request, Menendez would be formally advised that any political campaign or application for state or local government employment would place him in contempt, opening him to further legal penalties.

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