Bob Menendez, a longtime U.S. senator, has temporarily stepped down from his important job as the leader of the Senate’s foreign relations group.
This move comes as he faces accusations of taking bribes.
The Justice Department claims that Menendez and his wife received hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for helping Egypt’s government.
They deny these accusations.
Even though some fellow Democrats from his home state of New Jersey have asked him to quit, Menendez has chosen to remain in his Senate seat.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said that Menendez would step aside as committee chairman “until the matter has been resolved.”
Schumer praised Menendez as a dedicated public servant.
This isn’t the first time Menendez has had to give up his role on the foreign relations panel.
In 2015, he stepped down after being accused of taking bribes from a Florida eye doctor.
However, that case ended in a mistrial when the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict.
Now, Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin is expected to temporarily take Menendez’s place as the committee’s top Democrat.
Menendez and his spouse, Nadine Arslanian, are accused of accepting bribes, including cash, gold, mortgage payments, and a luxury car, from three New Jersey businessmen.
Prosecutors say they did this to secretly help the Egyptian government and to benefit the three men.
The charges against them include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under the guise of official power.
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Mrs. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and will defend herself in court, he believes that these allegations are politically motivated.
He stated, “For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave.”
“Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists.”
“I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all of the facts are presented and my fellow New Jerseyans will see this for what it is,” he added.
But many top Democrats, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, have called for his resignation.
If Menendez resigns from the Senate, the governor of New Jersey would appoint a temporary replacement.
However, this could cause problems for Democrats, as they have a slim one-seat majority in the Senate.
The White House, which considers Menendez an important ally for foreign policy matters, has not commented on the situation.
Despite the charges, Menendez remains determined and has said, “I am not going anywhere.”
These accusations come after a lengthy investigation by the Justice Department.
In 2022, federal agents searched Menendez’s home and discovered evidence of bribery agreements, including a substantial amount of cash hidden in various places.
They also found a luxury car and gold bars paid for by one of the businessmen involved.
As a result of the charges, Menendez and his wife may have to forfeit several assets, including their New Jersey home.
One of the businessmen accused, Wael Hana, has stated that the charges have no merit, and Mr. Daibes’s businesses have not commented on the situation. The Egyptian Embassy in Washington DC has not responded to inquiries.
Menendez, his wife, and the other defendants are scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on September 27th.
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