Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty in federal bribery case, as calls for resignation grow

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges. 

The senior lawmaker from New Jersey is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for using his official role as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee − a position he has since stepped down from − to benefit the government of Egypt, according to the unsealed indictment.

Menendez entered his plea late Wednesday morning in a federal courtroom in Manhattan.

He and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, arrived at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse shortly after 8 a.m. The couple held hands as they pushed their way forward through a gaggle of press and photographers. In the distance, a bystander yelled "Resign!"

Sen. Cory Booker, who represents New Jersey alongside Menendez, is among more than two dozen Democratic senators who have called on Menendez to resign.

Menendez, however, has denied the allegations and vowed Monday to fight them.

It’s the second corruption case in a decade against Menendez, whose last trial involving different allegations ended with jurors failing to reach a verdict in 2017.

What does the indictment say?

The three-count indictment alleged that Menendez, Nadine Menedez, and three businessmen − Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes − were part of a bribery scheme.

Between 2018 and 2022, Menendez and his wife allegedly “engaged in a corrupt relationship with Hana, Uribe and Daibes” to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for Menendez using his “power and influence to protect, to enrich those businessmen and to benefit the government of Egypt.”

Bribes included cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job and a Mercedes-Benz, much of which is detailed in photographs in the 39-page indictment.

In addition to Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez, Uribe and Daibes pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Hana previously entered a not guilty plea Tuesday.

Authorities say they found nearly $500,000 in cash hidden in clothing and closets as well as more than $100,000 in gold bars during a search of the Menendez residence.

In his first public remarks since the indictment, Menendez said Monday that the cash found in his home was drawn from his personal savings accounts over the years and that he kept it on hand for emergencies.

Calls for resignation continue to mount

The chorus calling for Menendez's resignation continues to grow. On Tuesday, Booker said that since Menendez denies the allegations it is “understandable that he believes stepping down is patently unfair" but that he sees that as a mistake” and believes “stepping down is best for those Sen. Menendez has spent his life serving.” Booker stood by Menendez when he was indicted in 2015.

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Gov. Phil Murphy and other New Jersey Democrats have called on Menendez to step down – in stark contrast to the support Menendez received from most Democrats during his earlier corruption case..

Other Democratic senators calling on Menendez to resign include John Fetterman and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Peter Welch of Vermont, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jon Tester of Montana and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.

Members of the state's congressional delegation have also issued statements calling for Menendez to resign, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Andy Kim. Menendez is up for reelection next year, and Kim has said he will challenge Menendez in the Democratic primary.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

Contributing: The Associated Press