Topline
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) pleaded not guilty Monday to an indictment that alleges he acted as a foreign agent, after federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment earlier this month expanding the three-term senator’s initial corruption and bribery charges.
Menendez pleaded not guilty to three felony charges last month.
Key Facts
The 69-year-old senator pleaded not guilty to a charge that alleges he acted as an agent of the Egyptian government during a minutes-long hearing Monday, the Associated Press reported.
Menendez appeared in a Manhattan federal court Monday afternoon, after stepping down from his role as chair of the Foreign Relations committee following allegations of maintaining a “corrupt relationship” with three New Jersey businessmen who bribed the senator and his wife.
Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, and Egyptian-American businessman Wael Hana who were also charged in the superseding indictment also pleaded not guilty during Monday’s hearing.
Key Background
Last month, Menendez pleaded not guilty to three felony charges including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Menendez was released on a $100,000 bond. His wife, Nadine Menendez, also pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors alleged that Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, three New Jersey businessmen, bribed the senator with gold, money, a luxury car and home mortgage payments in exchange for a “series of official acts and breaches of official duty.” Prosecutors updated the charges earlier this month in a superseding indictment that alleges Menendez accepted bribes from officials in Egypt in exchange for providing sensitive U.S. government information to help the Egyptian government. Participating in this relationship is a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which says individuals have to register with the U.S. government if they want to act as “an agent of a foreign principal,” but because Menendez is a member of Congress he is not eligible. Menendez has maintained his innocence and said he will not step down.
Chief Critics
The charges have prompted fierce backlash from fellow members of Congress and New Jersey officials alike. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) called on his fellow senators to expel Menendez from Congress following the charges—if this happened it would be the first time since the Civil War that a senator was expelled. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) called on Mendez to step down and said the facts of the case were “so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state.” Fellow New Jersey Democratic Reps. Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill also called on Menendez to step down after the charges were announced. Kim has since said he plans to run for Menendez’s Senate seat in 2024.
Tangent
Menendez was previously indicted in 2015 in New Jersey for a similar offense. He was accused of accepting bribes, campaign contributions and bribes for official favors and was acquitted three years later of some charges and had the rest dismissed by the Department of Justice.
What We Don’t Know
Menendez’s term expires in 2025. It remains unclear whether he will run for reelection.
Further Reading
Menendez Charged With Acting As Foreign Agent (Forbes)
New Jersey Sen. Menendez Indicted Over Alleged Bribes—Including Gold Bars And A Luxury Car (Forbes)
Sen. Robert Menendez Pleads Not Guilty To Bribery Charges (Forbes)
