New obstruction of justice crimes levied against Sen. Bob Menendez in rewritten indictment
Source: AP
Updated 5:54 PM EST, March 5, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — New obstruction of justice crimes were added Tuesday to charges against Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife that allege they accepted gold bars, cash and a luxury car in return for favors the senator carried out to assist three businessmen. The charges were in a rewritten indictment returned against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court.
Conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice charges were added against Menendez and his wife, Nadine. In a statement, the senator called the additions “a flagrant abuse of power” and claimed prosecutors were “trying to get me to give in simply by making wild allegations again and again, without actually proving anything.”
He said the government “has long known that I learned of and helped repay loans — not bribes — that had been provided to my wife.” “Not content — or capable — of meeting those facts fairly at trial, the government has now falsely alleged a cover-up and obstruction,” Menendez said. “I am innocent and will prove it no matter how many charges they continue to pile on.”
David Schertler, a Washington-based lawyer for Nadine Menendez, declined to comment on the new allegations.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/menendez-federal-bribery-indictment-136e45051b074dbe1a366214cee2634f
Article updated.
Previous article/headline -
Updated 4:10 PM EST, March 5, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) -- New obstruction of justice crimes were added Tuesday to charges against Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife that allege they accepted gold bars, cash and a luxury car in return for favors the senator carried out to assist three businessmen. The new charges were in a rewritten indictment returned against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court.
New charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice were added against Menendez and his wife, Nadine. Attorneys for Bob and Nadine Menendez and the other defendants in the case didn't immediately respond to emails requesting comment.
An indictment already alleges that the couple conspired with three businessmen to accept the bribes in return for the senator's help in projects pursued by the businessmen. Both have pleaded not guilty, along with two of the businessmen. A May trial has been scheduled. One businessman pleaded guilty to charges last week and agreed to testify at trial against the others.
After his fall arrest, Menendez, 70, was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said he would not resign from Congress.
Original article -
NEW YORK (AP) -- New obstruction of justice crimes were added Tuesday to charges against Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife that allege they accepted gold bars, cash and a luxury car in return for favors the senator carried out to assist three businessmen.
The new charges were in a rewritten indictment returned against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court. New charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice were added against Menendez and his wife, Nadine.
An indictment already alleges that the couple conspired with three businessmen to accept the bribes in return for the senator's help in projects pursued by the businessmen. Both have pleaded not guilty, along with two of the businessmen. A May trial has been scheduled.
One businessman pleaded guilty to charges last week and agreed to testify at trial against the others. After his fall arrest, Menendez, 70, was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said he would not resign from Congress.
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