Sen. Menendez Returns to New York Court docket to Enter Plea to New Conspiracy Cost
Sen. Menendez Returns to New York Court docket to Enter Plea to New Conspiracy Cost
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey arrives to the federal courthouse in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Menendez is due in courtroom to reply to federal fees alleging he used his highly effective submit to secretly advance Egyptian pursuits and perform favors for native businessmen in trade for bribes of money and gold bars. (AP Photograph/Jeenah Moon)
By Larry Neumeister
Menendez, 69, was scheduled to seem within the afternoon earlier than Choose Sidney H. Stein at federal courtroom in Manhattan.
The opposite defendants entered not responsible fees to a superseding indictment final week. The senator was permitted to delay his arraignment so he might are inclined to Senate duties. He has stated that all through his entire life he has been loyal to the US and that he’ll present his innocence.
Menendez has resisted calls from greater than 30 Democrats that he resign.
As a member of Congress, Menendez is prohibited from performing as an agent for a overseas authorities.
Menendez is accused of passing data to the Egyptians in regards to the employees on the U.S. embassy in Cairo, ghostwriting a letter on Egypt’s behalf meant to affect fellow senators and urging the U.S. State Division to get extra concerned in worldwide negotiations to dam a dam challenge Egypt opposed, amongst different issues.
Final week, Nadine Menendez and a businessman, Wael Hana, pleaded not responsible to the superseding indictment.
Each of them have been charged with conspiring with the senator to make use of him as an agent of the federal government of Egypt and its officers. The cost carries a possible penalty of as much as 5 years in jail.
