Current:Home > MarketsSen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to latest federal corruption charges-InfoLens
Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to latest federal corruption charges
View Date:2024-12-23 11:59:42
NEW YORK -- New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was back in federal court in Lower Manhattan on Monday afternoon after the indictment against him was rewritten to add an additional charge.
Menendez said nothing as he walked into court. The 69-year-old stood and answered the judge's questions and told him he was pleading "not guilty, your honor."
READ MORE: Sen. Chuck Schumer says he's had "serious discussions" with Sen. Bob Menendez about federal charges
The longtime senator, his wife, Nadine Menendez, and Egyptian-American businessman Wael Hana are accused of conspiring to have Sen. Menendez act as an agent of the Egyptian government while he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Sen. Menendez has since stepped down from that role leading the committee.
READ MORE: New Jersey attorney general's office looking into deadly 2018 car crash involving Nadine Menendez, wife of Sen. Bob Menendez
Nadine Menendez and Hana entered not guilty pleas to the superseding indictment last week, but Sen. Menendez was allowed to delay his arraignment due to Senate obligations.
Among the allegations, he's accused of passing non-public, highly sensitive information to the Egyptians about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, allegedly texting it to Nadine Menendez, who forwarded it to Hana, who then sent it to an Egyptian government official.
Sen. Menendez is also accused of ghostwriting a letter on behalf of Egypt, "lobbying other U.S. senators to support U.S. aid to Egypt."
READ MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez holds high-stakes meeting with fellow senate Democrats
Prosecutors say the senator and his wife accepted bribes that included gold bars, cash and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for official acts.
Last month, Sen. Menendez pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and other charges and was released on $100,000 bond.
The other defendants also pleaded not guilty.
On his way out of court Monday afternoon, there was again silence from Sen. Menendez as reporters asked questions.
However, the senator later released a statement to CBS New York, saying:
"The government's latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues. Anyone who knows my record, knows this latest charge is as outrageous as it is absurd.
"I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country -- the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.
"The facts haven't changed. The government is engaged in primitive hunting, by which the predator chases its prey until it's exhausted and then kills it. This tactic won't work.
"I will not litigate this case through the press, but have made it abundantly clear that I have done nothing wrong and once all the facts are presented will be found innocent."
More than 30 Democrats have called on Sen. Menendez to resign. He maintains his innocence.
The latest charges have a penalty of up to five years in prison. Federal law prohibits Sen. Menendez, as a public official, from serving as a foreign agent.
- In:
- Bob Menendez
- United States Senate
- Robert Menendez
- Egypt
Alice Gainer joined CBS2 as a reporter and anchor in January 2013. She covers breaking, feature and general assignment stories.
Twitter FacebookveryGood! (1)
Related
- Sofia Richie Reveals 5-Month-Old Daughter Eloise Has a Real Phone
- Chiefs WR trade options: Could Rashee Rice's injury prompt look at replacements?
- Best tech gadgets for the fall: Gear up for the season with these new gadgets
- Giants name former catcher Buster Posey new President of Baseball Operations, replacing Farhan Zaidi
- 'The Penguin' spoilers! Colin Farrell spills on that 'dark' finale episode
- Breyers to pay $8.85 million to settle 'natural vanilla' ice cream dispute
- Drake Hogestyn, ‘Days of Our Lives’ star, dies at 70
- MLB power rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers take scenic route to No. 1 spot before playoffs
- Gun groups sue to overturn Maine’s new three-day waiting period to buy firearms
- World Central Kitchen, Hearts with Hands providing food, water in Asheville
Ranking
- Footage shows Oklahoma officer throwing 70-year-old to the ground after traffic ticket
- Sabrina Carpenter jokes at NYC concert about Eric Adams indictment
- Tyler Cameron’s Girlfriend Tate Madden Shares Peek Inside Their Romance
- Did SMU football's band troll Florida State Seminoles with 'sad' War Chant?
- Timothée Chalamet Details How He Transformed Into Bob Dylan for Movie
- Gavin Creel, Tony-winning Broadway star, dies at 48
- Katie Meyer's family 'extremely disappointed' Stanford didn't honor ex-goalie last week
- Hurricane Helene among deadliest to hit US mainland; damage and death toll grow
Recommendation
-
AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
-
Kylie Jenner's Secret Use for Nipple Cream Is the Ultimate Mom Hack
-
Cutting food waste would lower emissions, but so far only one state has done it
-
Cutting food waste would lower emissions, but so far only one state has done it
-
Who will be in the top 12? Our College Football Playoff ranking projection
-
Steward Health Care files a lawsuit against a US Senate panel over contempt resolution
-
Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Martin Scorsese and more stars pay tribute to Kris Kristofferson
-
Kendra Wilkinson Teases Return to Reality TV Nearly 2 Decades After Girls Next Door