Sen. Bob Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Bribery and Corruption Charges

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges of bribery, extortion and fraud, Politico reports.

According to New York Law Journal reporter Jane WesterMenendez will be released on $100,000 bail after he surrenders his personal passport.

Menendez, a Democrat, was indicted last week along with his wife following an investigation into their business dealings with three men with ties to the Egyptian government.

Sen. Bob Menendez, wife charged with bribery after allegedly receiving ‘cash, gold, luxury vehicle’ and more

Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian Menendez arrive for a reception at the White House on May 16, 2022.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

The 39-page indictment alleges that the senator, 69, and Nadine, 56, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for the protection of three businessmen — Wael Han, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes — and for the “welfare” of the Egyptian government. Some of those kickbacks, prosecutors say, came in the form of envelopes stuffed with cash.

“Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed in envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe — was discovered in the home, along with more than $70,000 in Nadine Menendez’s safe,” the indictment states.

Menendez, who was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time of the indictment, has since told reporters that the money came from his “personal savings.”

John Fetterman says he will return Bob Menendez’s campaign donation as he calls on the accused senator to resign

The indictment further alleges that the senator “secured sensitive U.S. government information and took other steps that covertly assisted the Egyptian government,” and “improperly advised and pressured an official at the United States Department of Agriculture to protect a business monopoly” to one of the businessmen. , Hanu, was awarded by the state of Egypt.

The couple was charged with three counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under the guise of official law.

Nadine and Bob Menendez arrive for a gala dinner at the White House on June 22, 2023.

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty

Menendez has served as a senator since 2006. Prior to that, he served as a U.S. Representative, state senator, state representative, and mayor of Union City, New Jersey.

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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including fellow Democrats, have since called on Menendez to step down, though the lawmaker has said he has no intention of doing so.

Menendez, who is up for re-election in 2024, now faces a primary challenger — U.S. Rep. Andy Kim — who announced he would run against the Democrats just days after the indictment was revealed.

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Source: HIS Education