Senator Robert Menendez has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he acted as an agent of Egypt while serving as a member of Congress.
The Senator is accused of providing “sensitive US government information” to help Egypt’s government.
Prosecutors allege he and his wife Nadine accepted bribes that included stacks of gold bars and a luxury car.
Mr Menendez, who had pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges earlier, has vowed not to resign.
The Senator and his wife – who has also pleaded not guilty – walked hand in hand out of the Manhattan courtroom on Monday and got into a car without taking any questions from reporters, according to the Associated Press.
In the original indictment last month, federal prosecutors said the couple took bribes from three New Jersey businessmen, in exchange for using Mr Menendez’s position to push for increased US aid and military sales to Egypt.
Prosecutors added another charge in October, alleging Mr Menendez used “his influence and power to breach his official duty in ways that benefited the Government of Egypt”.
During his time on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – which he has now stepped down from – Mr Menendez allegedly encouraged fellow senators to lift a hold on $300m (£246m) in aid to Egypt and provided sensitive US government information to help it, according to prosecutors.
The indictment alleges the conspiracy occurred between January 2018 and June 2022.
Under US law, members of congress cannot work on behalf of another country’s government.
Casting himself as a target of political opponents, Mr Menendez has said he will be exonerated of all accusations.
While his criminal trial is not expected to begin for another six months, the New Jersey Senator is already facing repercussions.
After stepping down as foreign relations chairman, he was barred from an intelligence briefing for the entire senate on the Israel-Hamas war, and is being pushed to resign by more than 30 Senate Democrats.
Source : BBC
