U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his wife face new obstruction of justice charges in addition to existing corruption charges, with prosecutors alleging that Menendez was aware of bribe payments made to his wife by businessmen. Menendez has maintained his innocence, stating that the payments were loans, and a trial is scheduled for May 6 in Manhattan federal court. The indictment also implicates businessman Wael Hana and alleges that Menendez helped a New Jersey businessman seek investment from a Qatari company with ties to the Middle Eastern country's government.
US Senator Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to a new indictment charging him with conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent for the Egyptian government. Menendez, who was previously charged with accepting cash and gold bars in exchange for using his influence to benefit Egypt's government, entered the plea before a federal judge in Manhattan. The new indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials. Menendez has resisted calls to resign.
US Democratic Senator Bob Menendez has rejected calls to step down from his seat in Congress after being charged with taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. Despite some elected officials urging him to resign, Menendez has denied wrongdoing and vowed to stay in the Senate. His decision may complicate his party's efforts to maintain its narrow majority in the chamber. Menendez has temporarily stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as required by Senate Democratic rules. Prosecutors allege that Menendez accepted gold bars and cash in exchange for using his influence to aid the Egyptian government and interfere with law enforcement investigations.
