'I dare him': John Fetterman calls Bob Menendez's bluff over threat to run as independent

Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who along with his wife is facing 18 federal counts, is considering running for reelection in November as an Independent, sources close to the matter tell NBC News.

Menendez, who also accused of accepting bribes, has not yet publicly announced a run for reelection after he stepped down from his post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has since rejected calls for him to resign.

According to a report from NBC News, Menendez "is preparing to collect petitions" in preparation for an Independent run in November.

"If Menendez were to run as a Democrat, he would need to come up with 1,000 signatures by March 25th — so time is not on his side. But running as an independent would give him more time; in that case, he would only need 800 signatures by June 4th to qualify for the ballot," NBC News' report stated.

When asked by NBC News this Thursday if he's planning an Independent run, Menendez neither confirmed or denied the rumor.

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“I don’t have to declare what I am doing. When I do, everybody will know," he said.

Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who has filed to run for Menendez's seat, said the news that he might be running as an Independent was "alarming" and is "just another clear example of putting his own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for this country.”

"There is no way that he can win this seat," Kim said. "But what he could do is jeopardize this seat and give Republicans a chance."

Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Fetterman, who's been an outspoken critic of Menendez, scoffed at the notion of him running as an Independent.

“I dare him. Go ahead. Go ahead, dude,” said Fetterman. “If that sleaze ball wants to pull 7%, go right ahead. And that’s going to be strange trying to campaign while you’re in your trial.”

Read the full report at NBC News.