New Jersey governor Phil Murphy is expected to name his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to fill Sen. Bob Menendez’s seat temporarily until a permanent replacement is elected. 

Helmy served as chief of staff for five years, making him the longest-serving chief of staff for a governor in New Jersey history. 

In July, Menendez was convicted on charges of corruption, including taking cash and gold, after a nine-week trial. After intense pressure to resign, Menendez announced that he will resign on Tuesday, August 20. 

During his “Ask Governor Murphy” program on New Jersey’s public radio stations on Wednesday, Murphy would not confirm this decision, stating, “No news to make in terms of names, but … it’s getting now to the point where it will be any moment over the next few days. Senator Menendez is stepping down next Tuesday.” Murphy is expected to announce his selection later in the week. “I’m proud of the fact that we have a very broad-minded (selection) process,” Murphy said. “Really proud of that. We’ll see where it lands.”