Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted, accused of using his foreign affairs influence to help Egypt in return for bribes from the authoritarian regime
, the second in eight years against the powerful 69-year-old New Jersey Democrat, alleges an illegal commingling of Menendez's professional obligations as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to advance U.S. priorities and his private interest in cultivating relationships with wealthy businessmen.
Menendez in an emailed statement accused prosecutors of misrepresenting “the normal work of a congressional office" and said he will not allow his work in the Senate to be distracted by “baseless allegations.” Egypt has long been a top recipient of U.S. government aid -- more than $1 billion a year -- thanks to overriding American national security interests in the region, but the relationship has been tested by concerns over human rights abuses in the country.
The White House declined to comment on the indictment, including on Biden’s nomination of Sellinger, and referred all questions to the Justice Department. Now that he is indicted, Menendez will have to step down as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, according to rules for the Senate Democratic caucus. It is unclear whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will also call on him to leave the committee or resign from his seat.
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