The Biden administration declined to comment Friday on the federal corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), even as other top Democrats have started pressuring him to resign.

The indictment says that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, who allegedly gave the senator bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked at a press conference if the White House knew about the indictment before it was made public and if they believe that Menendez should resign.

“So, a couple of things. I’m going to be really careful here — this is a — and not comment, because this is an active matter,” she said. “We learned about this just like all of you. But again, this is active matter, so I’m not going to comment.”

When repeatedly asked if he should resign, all she would say was, “I’m not going to comment.”

Karine Jean-Pierre says she's "not gonna comment" on the indictment of Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez — who participated in a photo op with Biden less than 24 hours ago — on federal corruption and bribery charges pic.twitter.com/AMb5BJshqT

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 22, 2023

A reporter later asked Jean-Pierre what message it would send to the rest of the world if Menendez was allowed to remain as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez was forced to step down from the role due to Senate Democrat bylaws that require leaders to step down if they are charged with a felony.

“So, I believe, from some of your reporting, I think there’s discussions happening about his next steps — the senator’s next steps. So, I leave it to the leadership of the Senate and certainly lead it — leave that to the senator’s office,” she said. “I have to be really careful because it is, indeed, an ongoing matter. And so, I cannot comment on this. But as far as his leadership role in the Senate, that is something for Senate leadership to speak to.”

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She said that she wanted to be “very, very clear about this,” that President Joe Biden was “not going to get involved.”

Top Democrats from New Jersey have started to press Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign after he was indicted on Friday on corruption charges stemming from alleged bribes that he took in exchange for taking actions as an elected official.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) said that the allegations in the indictment were “deeply disturbing” because they “implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system.”

“The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state,” he said. “Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation.”

Menendez stepped down from his powerful role as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because he was required to do so, according to Senate Democrat bylaws, which state that “any member who serves in a leadership position in the Conference who is charged with a felony shall cease to exercise the powers and duties of his or her leadership position.”

Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) also called for Menendez to resign, saying that the allegations were “serious and alarming.”

“It doesn’t matter what your job title is or your politics – no one in America is above the law,” he said. “The people of New Jersey absolutely need to know the truth of what happened, and I hope the judicial system works thoroughly and quickly to bring this truth to light. In the meantime, I don’t have confidence that the Senator has the ability to properly focus on our state and its people while addressing such a significant legal matter. He should step down.”

Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) both also called for Menendez to resign from his senate seat.

Wow, senior NJ Dems Pallone and Pascrell calling on Menendez to resign: pic.twitter.com/2nvTjW2uSt

— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) September 22, 2023

Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) also called on Menendez to resign, writing: “As a moral matter, how can we ask Americans to vote against an indicted Trump, but for an indicted Democratic Senator, especially with evidence this damning?”

“I believe Senator Menendez should resign,” he said. “When I was in Congress, I got several tough-on-Egypt provisions into House-passed defense bills, which were then stripped in the Senate. I still don’t know why. But the idea that the chairman of the SFRC may then have been in a corrupt relationship with Egypt is horrifying.”

When I was in Congress, I got several tough-on-Egypt provisions into House-passed defense bills, which were then stripped in the Senate.

I still don't know why. But the idea that the chairman of the SFRC may then have been in a corrupt relationship with Egypt is horrifying.

— Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski) September 22, 2023

The indictment says that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, who allegedly gave the senator bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.

Menendez faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.

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“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the indictment said. Federal authorities reportedly found gold bars and cash stuffed throughout the senator’s home that they traced back to the businessmen Menendez allegedly worked with.

“Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the home,” the indictment said. Photos included in the indictment included pictures of gold bars and hundred dollars bills that had been stuffed in clothing.

Related: Pressure Mounts For Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez To Resign From Office Over Corruption Charges