Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was charged with acting as a foreign agent over allegations of accepting bribes from business leaders in Egypt.
The new charges added to the recent bribery charges against the senator and were filed in Manhattan on Thursday.
Democrat Sen Bob Menendez accused of acting as a foreign agent in superseding indictment https://t.co/phJDHOI7WQ
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) October 12, 2023
"Among other actions, MENENDEZ provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt," the indictment states.
"It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that ROBERT MENENDEZ, the defendant, and others known and unknown, being a public official, directly and indirectly, would and did corruptly demand, seek, receive, accept, and agree to receive and accept something of value personally and for another person and entity, in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act and for being induced to do an act and omit to do an act in violation of his official duty," the indictment reads.
BREAKING: Sen. Bob Menendez has been charged with accepting bribes from a foreign national and acting as foreign agent in a new indictment. https://t.co/NFV52tj5Qk
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 12, 2023
Menendez responded by denying the new allegations made against him in the indictment.
"The government’s latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President [Abdel-Fattah] El-Sisi on these issues," he said.
"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts haven’t changed, only a new charge," he added. "I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence."
The senator could face up to two years in prison for the new charge. The prison sentence could be much longer depending on the additional charges involved.
Three other New Jersey businessmen have also been charged in connection with the situation. All three have pleaded not guilty in the case.
The move is leading to many turning against Menendez, including Democrats, who are calling for the senator to step down from his role in the Senate.
