A superseding federal indictment filed Thursday accuses Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) with acting as a foreign agent for Egypt.
The indictment adds to the previous federal charges filed against Menendez and his wife.
Prosecutors allege the couple received ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and used the senator’s influence to enrich three businessmen from New Jersey and benefit the Egyptian government.’
Menendez also faces accusations of ‘providing sensitive U.S. government information and took other steps that secretly aided Egypt’s government.’
BREAKING: A superseding indictment says Senator Bob Menendez, “provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt." https://t.co/8lDKZgjfZo
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 12, 2023
CNBC reports:
Menendez and his wife received thousands of dollars in bribes “in exchange for Menendez’s acts and breaches of duty to benefit” Egypt and others, “including with respect to foreign military sales and foreign military financing,” the indictment says.
It’s the latest federal criminal accusation against Menendez. The longtime New Jersey lawmaker and his wife, Nadine, were previously indicted in New York on federal charges related to their alleged “corrupt relationship” with three businessmen from their home state to protect those men and benefit the nation of Egypt.
A spokesperson for Menendez did not return a request for comment. A representative for the Egyptian embassy did not return an email seeking comment.
Menendez has denied wrongdoing and has rejected calls to resign from the Senate. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and many of Menendez’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate have also called on him to resign, including fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has stopped short of demanding Menendez to step down, however.
Sen. Bob Menendez, wife accused of plotting to act as Egypt agents in new indictment https://t.co/n0L2asxeny pic.twitter.com/4scf40U7je
— New York Post (@nypost) October 12, 2023
The New York Post noted:
The 69-year-old New Jersey Democrat now faces four counts in a case brought by Manhattan prosecutors accusing him of accepting cash, gold, a luxury car and other items in exchange for using his influence to help Wael Hana and two other cronies.
The new count formally accuses Menendez of surreptitiously lobbying his colleagues while chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to unfreeze $300 million in military aid meant for the Cairo government.
Menendez previously stepped down as Foreign Relations Committee Chairman following the indictment.
Per The Hill:
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will step down from his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following an indictment that was unsealed on Friday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced the move Friday afternoon.
Under Democratic Conference rules, a member in a leadership position or with a chair must resign if charged with a felony, but can be reinstated if the charges are cleared or dropped to a lesser charge.
“Bob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey. He has a right to due process and a fair trial,” Schumer said in the statement.
“Senator Menendez has rightly decided to step down temporarily from his position as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee until the matter has been resolved.”
