U.S. Senator Bob Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charges, Facing Calls for Resignation
NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting bribes from three New Jersey businessmen, as fellow Democrats are calling for his resignation. Menendez’s plea was entered through his lawyer, Seth Farber, at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona Wang in Manhattan.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan last week accused Menendez and his wife of accepting gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. In exchange, the senator allegedly used his influence to aid Egypt’s government and interfere with law enforcement investigations pertaining to the businessmen. Menendez smiled and chatted with his lawyers after the hearing, while his wife, Nadine Menendez, and the businessmen – Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes – also pleaded not guilty.
Wang stated that Menendez could be released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond, but he would have to surrender his personal passport. However, he would still be allowed to keep his official passport for travel abroad on official business. Nadine Menendez was released on a $250,000 bond, while Uribe and Daibes were released on bonds of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. Another businessman, Wael Hana, also pleaded not guilty and was released on a $5 million bond on Tuesday.
All defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein, who will oversee the case, on Monday.
Menendez, who represents New Jersey, already stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as required under his party’s rules. However, he has announced his intention to stay in the Senate and fight the charges. More than half of all U.S. Democratic senators, including New Jersey’s junior senator Cory Booker, have called for Menendez’s resignation since the charges were revealed last Friday. Senator Dick Durbin also joined his fellow Senate Democrats in urging Menendez to step down.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced that Menendez will address Senate Democrats on Thursday. Schumer said, “For senators, there’s a much, much higher standard. And clearly when you read the indictment, Senator Menendez fell way, way below that standard.”
Democrats currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate with 51 seats. Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who would appoint a temporary replacement if Menendez resigns, has also called for his resignation.
The indictment against Menendez included images of gold bars and cash that were seized from his home. Prosecutors allege that Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressured Menendez to approve military aid. In return, Hana placed Menendez’s wife on the payroll of a company he controlled.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Menendez has faced investigation by federal prosecutors. However, he has never been convicted.
Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Rami Ayyub, Patricia Zengerle, Doina Chiacu, and Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone, Timothy Gardner, and Jonathan Oatis