FILE-Credit: © Kevin R. Wexler-The Record / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) — New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez appeared in Federal Court in Manhattan on Monday where he and his wife Nadine pleaded not guilty to a host of new charges in his bribery and corruption case. The Democrat was indicted on 12 new criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, fraud, extortion and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. Prosecutors accuse Menendez of accepting gifts, such as gold bars, cash and luxury watches in exchange for doing favors for the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez’s trial is set to begin May 6th.
Two major Democratic candidates for New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seat are watching the Menendez case closely. First Lady Tammy Murphy and Congressman Andy Kim of Burlington County share a lot of positions, including tightening gun laws, ensuring a national right to abortion and fighting climate change. What they don’t agree on is their rival’s fitness for office. Kim cited Murphy’s long background as a Republican Party member and big donor. Murphy said she became a Democrat ten years ago when the party “left her” and criticized Kim, a former diplomat, for working in Republican administrations.
