US Senator Menendez Faces New Charge in Corruption Case
Prosecutors Bring Additional Accusation Against Democratic Senator
Prosecutors in the corruption case against Bob Menendez have added a new charge, accusing the Democratic U.S. senator of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. The revised indictment, filed in federal court in Manhattan, now includes four counts against Menendez, with his trial set to begin in May.
Accusations of Corruption and Influence Peddling
According to prosecutors, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, allegedly accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for using their influence to interfere with law enforcement investigations involving three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government.
Failure to Register as a Foreign Agent
The new indictment claims that Menendez, who until recently served as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took actions on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials without registering with the U.S. Department as a foreign agent.
Co-defendant’s Role in the Corruption Scheme
Prosecutors allege that Wael Hana, a co-defendant in the case, arranged meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials who urged him to approve military aid. In return, Hana put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled.
Menendez’s Response and Plea
Despite facing calls for his resignation, Menendez has refused to step down and maintains his innocence. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, as has his wife, Hana, and their co-defendants, businessmen Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.
Looking Ahead
As the trial approaches, Menendez’s lawyer has not yet responded to requests for comment. It remains to be seen how the senator will defend himself against the allegations and what impact this case will have on his political career.
