"Sen. Bob Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Expanded Charges in Bribery Case"

Senator Bob Menendez and his wife pleaded not guilty to new obstruction charges in a federal indictment, which added to the bribery and corruption charges he already faced. The couple allegedly tried to make bribes look like loans and sought to cover up the payments when they learned of the federal investigation. They are scheduled to stand trial in May alongside two New Jersey businessmen who also pleaded not guilty to the new obstruction counts. A third businessman pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate. Menendez, who has denied all wrongdoing, is the first sitting member of Congress to be charged with conspiracy by a public official to act as a foreign agent.