Current:Home > ContactWill Sage Astor-Sen. Bob Menendez and wife plead not guilty to latest obstruction of justice charges -Edge Finance Strategies
Will Sage Astor-Sen. Bob Menendez and wife plead not guilty to latest obstruction of justice charges
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 19:45:08
NEW YORK -- New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, pleaded not guilty to new obstruction of justice charges Monday.
Menendez and his wife stayed silent as they entered Manhattan federal court after they were charged in an 18-count indictment last week.
The couple is accused of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen, including $500,000 cash stuffed in envelopes, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, for political favors.
The latest indictment alleges they tried to make bribes look like loans.
"Once again, not guilty your honor," Menendez told the judge Monday.
Businessman Jose Uribe recently pleaded guilty and told a judge he gave the senator's wife a car to influence him.
Uribe claims he met with Nadine Menendez after search warrants were executed on the couple's home and agreed to call bribes loans. He said he will cooperate with investigators.
Businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana also pleaded not guilty Monday.
Wael's attorney Lawrence Lustberg said his client is not cutting a deal.
"My client is not going to plead guilty or cooperate. He's not guilty and he's going to be acquitted at trial," said Lustberg. "That one cooperator doesn't have much to say about him. But to the extent he does, we are confident that we can impeach his credibility."
Menendez, who said he will not resign, is also charged with acting as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt, which Hana allegedly has ties to.
"His actions will be shown not to be for the benefit of the government of Egypt," said Lustberg.
During the arraignment, we learned the government plans on calling fingerprint and DNA experts at trial, which is scheduled to start May 6.
Sources close to Menendez, a Democrat, told CBS New York reports he is not running for reelection are false. Walking out of court, Menendez said he hasn't ruled out running as an independent.
The senator's next court appearance is April 30.
What's in the new indictment against Sen. Menendez and his wife?
According to new court documents, Menendez's wife met with Uribe after federal investigators executed search warrants at the couple's home and, during the meeting, they allegedly discussed payments for a Mercedes-Benz convertible he gave her after prosecutors allege the senator agreed to try to influence the prosecution of someone close to Uribe. During their meeting, prosecutors said Uribe agreed he would tell investigators the car payments were loans.
The couple has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly falsely characterizing the return of bribe money as repayment for loans.
- Read More: New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez faces new charges of bribery, obstruction of justice
Menendez called the latest charges "an abuse of power" and insisted he is innocent.
"The government has now falsely alleged a cover-up and obstruction," he said in a statement. "The latest charge reveals far more about the government than it says about me. It says that the prosecutors are afraid of the facts, scared to subject their charges to the fair-minded scrutiny of a jury, and unconstrained by any sense of justice or fair play."
Menendez, his wife, and the other two businessmen pleaded not guilty to the previous set of charges against them.
- In:
- Bob Menendez
Christine Sloan is an Emmy Award-winning reporter, who covers New Jersey for CBS 2 New York. Sloan re-joined the station in January 2023. She also worked at CBS 2 New York from 2004 to 2016.
TwitterveryGood! (29193)
Related
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Céline Dion's Rare Outing With Son René-Charles at 2024 Grammys Put the Power of Love on Display
- Here’s how 2 sentences in the Constitution rose from obscurity to ensnare Donald Trump
- 1000-Lb Sisters’ Tammy Slaton Fires Back at “Irritating” Comments Over Her Excess Skin
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Here’s how 2 sentences in the Constitution rose from obscurity to ensnare Donald Trump
- Stevie Wonder pays tribute to Tony Bennett at Grammys: 'I'm going to miss you forever'
- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says Senate immigration proposal ends the practice of catch and release
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Pumping Breastmilk at Work? Here are the Must-Have Items That Can Make It a Little Easier
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- You can order a test to find out your biological age. Is it worth it?
- Marilyn Manson completes mandated Alcoholics Anonymous after blowing nose on videographer
- Jury to get manslaughter case against Michigan school shooter’s mother
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- CNN changes morning show lineup again, adds extra Kasie Hunt hour
- Israeli family on their agonizing Gaza captivity, and why freeing the hostages must be Israel's only mission
- Try to Catch Your Breath After Seeing Kelly Clarkson's Sweet 2024 Grammys Date Night With Son Remy
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
Victoria Monét wins best new artist at the Grammys
We Can’t Stop Looking at Photos of Miley Cyrus and Boyfriend Maxx Morando’s Grammys Date
Beyoncé hasn't won Grammys album of the year. Who was the last Black woman to hold the prize?
Could your smelly farts help science?
Jay-Z calls out Grammys for snubbing Beyoncé in acceptance speech: We want y'all to get it right
TikTok is full of budgeting and other financial tips. Can they boost your financial IQ?
Like Spider-Man, you may have your very own 'canon event.' Here's what that means.