George Helmy becomes first Coptic Christian sworn into US Senate
Helmy fills the New Jersey seat left vacant after Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted of federal crimes and resigned.
The first Coptic Christian and only the sixth Arab American has been sworn into office in the US Senate on Monday.
George Helmy, 44, the son of Egyptian parents who immigrated to New Jersey, on Sept. 9 took over the Senate seat vacated by Democrat Bob Menendez.
Menendez resigned in August after being convicted on federal corruption charges related to taking bribes from the Egyptian government.
Helmy will serve in Menendez’s place on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and the Finance Committee.
