Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) announced on Monday that he plans to stay in his Senate seat following charges brought against him by federal prosecutors last week for allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his position to benefit the Egyptian government.
This is not the senior New Jersey senator's first indictment. In 2015, Menendez was indicted on charges of accepting luxury vacations and gifts and over $600,000 in campaign donations from Dr. Salomon Melgen, who was also indicted.The indictment alleged that between January 2006 and January 2013, Menendez accepted flights, vacations, and legal and campaign donations from Melgen that all went undisclosed.
Federal protectors also alleged that in the earlier 2000s, Menendez used his office “to support the visa applications of several of Melgen’s girlfriends.” In 2017, a Florida jury found Melgen guilty of 67 criminal counts related to Medicare fraud. He was convicted on all counts following an eight-week jury trial and was sentenced to a 17-year prison term. However, former President Donald Trump issued a commutation of sentence to Melgen in 2021, sending him home.
The trial against Menendez was the first in over three decades to involve a sitting senator facing federal bribery charges, and only 12 other senators have been indicted. Menendez still managed to sail through his reelection that year.In May, the Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Menendez and wife, Nadine Arslanian, questioning where a Mercedes-Benz, a luxury Washington, D.C., apartment, jewelry, and other assets came from.
Menendez was indicted alongside his wife on Friday, the New Jersey senator accused of accepting bribes from three New Jersey businessmen to aid the Egyptian government, along with gold bars and a luxury car. Investigators found more than $480,000 stuffed in a safe, envelopes, and other various places in his home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
On Friday afternoon, Menendez stepped down as the chairman of the Senate Relations Committee, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer . Several Democrats, mainly in the House, have called on Menendez to resign. Sen. John Fetterman became the first senator to call for Menendez’s resignation on Saturday.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim announces bid for Senate, challenging indicted Bob MenendezNew Jersey Rep. Andy Kim announces bid for senate, challenging indicted Sen. Bob Menendez
Read more »
Chris Christie rules out running for indicted New Jersey J Sen. Bob Menendez's seat“I have no interest in being in the U.S. Senate,” Christie said in an interview on 'Meet the Press,' as Menendez faces growing calls to resign after he was charged with bribery.
Read more »
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez hires Hunter Biden lawyer for bribery caseMenendez is facing three counts of federal bribery charges.
Read more »
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, to address charges of bribery, fraud and extortionSen. Bob Menendez is expected to make his first public comments on the matter in Hudson County, where he grew up and launched his political career.
Read more »
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez to hold news conference days after federal indictmentPowerful Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife were indicted on Friday on federal bribery charges.
Read more »
Watch: Sen. Bob Menendez speaks in New Jersey on heels of bribery indictmentNew Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife were indicted on federal bribery charges on Friday. Menendez has previously denied wrongdoing and said in a statement, “I’m not going anywhere.” This stream starts at 11:30 a.m. ET. Please refresh your browser if it does not show up. WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is set to hold a press conference…
Read more »