Bob Menendez is to resign from the US Senate, according to US media, after being convicted of accepting bribes including gold bars to help foreign governments.

The New Jersey Democrat had been resisting resignation calls - including from Democratic Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer. His resignation comes a day after the US Senate Ethics Committee began a review on his expulsion.

Menendez - formerly the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - was found guilty on 16 counts related to corruption. He faces decades in prison.

He has maintained his innocence, saying outside court after his conviction that he “never violated my public oath”.