Bob Menendez, the US senator who previously chaired the Senate foreign relations committee, returned to court in New York on Monday to face charges of conspiring to act as an agent of the Egyptian government. During his first appearance before Judge Sidney Stein at federal court in lower Manhattan, Menendez entered a plea of “not guilty.” The trial is tentatively scheduled for May.
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The brief hearing focused solely on the plea, and Judge Stein adjourned the proceeding after approximately five minutes.
Last month, Menendez stepped down from his influential role leading the Senate committee. Prosecutors allege that the senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepted bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a luxury car, over the past five years from three businessmen in New Jersey in exchange for various acts of corruption.
While the other defendants entered not guilty pleas to a superseding indictment last week, Menendez’s arraignment was delayed due to his Senate duties. Throughout the process, Menendez has maintained his loyalty to the United States and professed his innocence.
Despite calls from over 30 national Democrats, including fellow New Jersey senator Cory Booker, Menendez has resisted resigning from his position. Booker’s decision to join those calls dealt a significant blow to Menendez.
The revised indictment includes an additional charge asserting that Menendez, his wife, and one of the businessmen conspired to use Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian government and its officials.
As a member of Congress, Menendez is prohibited from acting as a foreign government’s agent.
The accusations against Menendez include giving the Egyptians information about the staff at the US embassy in Cairo, crafting a letter on Egypt’s behalf to influence other senators, and urging the US Department of State to become more involved in international negotiations opposing a dam project Egypt disagreed with, among other alleged acts.
Last week, Nadine Menendez and businessman Wael Hana entered not guilty pleas to the superseding indictment. Both were charged with conspiring with Menendez to use him as an agent of the Egyptian government and its officials, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
Menendez was released on a $100,000 bond on Monday.
In a raid on Menendez’s home in the summer of 2022, federal prosecutors discovered a staggering amount of evidence. The influential Democrat had nearly $500,000 in cash hidden in various locations, including jacket pockets, closets, and a safe. Additionally, 13 gold bars were found, two of which weighed 1kg, and a Mercedes-Benz was stored in the garage.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
