Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman on Saturday became the first Democratic member of the chamber to call on his corrupt colleague Bob Menendez to quit, writing in a statement “Senator Menendez should resign. He’s entitled to the presumption of innocence under our system, but he is not entitled to continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations. I hope he chooses an honorable exit and focuses on his trial.”

This probably isn’t Fetterman “going rogue” so much as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer making it look like he’s “going rogue” by using him to turn the pressure up and get Goldbrick Dick to call it quits. Which is understandable. People might be impatient with Dem Senate leadership for not immediately jumping on it to force Menendez out, but we would like to think that out of respect and friendship they gave him a little space to accept that he’s not welcome there any more and if he doesn’t make “an honorable exit” soon then they will move to expel him. We would like to think that.

Separately on Saturday New Jersey Dem Congressman Andy Kim announced a primary challenge against Menendez. We haven’t seen any reporting on whom Governor Phil Murphy is thinking about for a replacement, but this probably would already mean he has to pick a “caretaker,” likely some retired former member of Congress who isn’t going to run in the special election. Again that’s the ideal outcome, but if Murphy picks Kim we wouldn’t really complain either. He’s a good dude.