Bob Menendez is accused of taking bribes and money to serve the pursuits of the Egyptian authorities
US Senator Robert Menendez pleaded not responsible on Wednesday to fees of bribery, fraud, and extortion. Menendez has confronted calls to resign from each events in Washington, however has vowed to remain in workplace whereas he fights the allegations.
Menendez entered his plea at a federal courtroom in New York. His spouse, Nadine Menendez, and two different co-defendants additionally pleaded not responsible. Menendez was launched on a $100,000 bond and ordered to give up his private passport. A fifth defendant pleaded not responsible on Tuesday.
Menendez and his spouse have been charged on Friday with collaborating in a sophisticated scheme that noticed them allegedly settle for “a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in bribes in change for utilizing Menendez’s energy and affect as Senator to serve the pursuits of a overseas state actor (Egypt) from at the least 2018 to 2022,” in line with the indictment.
The Democratic lawmaker can also be accused of taking funds in change for pressuring prosecutors into investigating a number of New Jersey businessmen.
A search of Menendez’s residence yielded round $100,000 price of gold bars, in addition to practically $500,000 in hidden money. Menendez has claimed that this stash was his “old school” technique of storing cash that he had “lawfully derived.”
Menendez headed the influential Senate Overseas Relations Committee, and performed a number one position in drawing up the US’ anti-Russian sanctions. Extra not too long ago, Menendez advocated for sanctions on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over Baku’s retaking of the ethnically-Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
In keeping with the indictment in opposition to him, Menendez used his place on the committee to finish a “maintain” on US navy assist to Egypt, and to go delicate authorities data to one in every of his co-defendants, an Egyptian-American businessman.
Whereas Menendez has stepped down as Chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, he has resisted calls from Republicans and fellow Democrats to resign from the Senate. Menendez has represented New Jersey since 2006, and is up for re-election subsequent 12 months. With the Senate break up 51-49 in favor of the Democratic Get together, Republicans solely must win two seats subsequent 12 months to regulate each Congressional chambers.
Menendez’ indictment marks the second time he has been accused of corruption. He was charged in 2015 with taking donations from businessman Dr. Salomon Melgen in change for serving to Mengen in his authorized disputes with the US authorities. Fees in opposition to Menendez have been dropped in 2018 following a mistrial.
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