“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty. I intend to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the same success I’ve had for the past five decades. This is the same record of success these very same leaders have lauded all along. It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere," Menendez' statement read.
Earlier, today, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called on Menendez to resign, saying the "alleged facts are so serious that they compromise" the senator's ability to do his job. The governor was among numerous New Jersey Democratic leaders to call for the senator's resignation.
7:14 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
2 US House members from New Jersey call for Menendez to resign
From CNN’s Nicki Brown
Two Democratic Congress members from New Jersey called for Sen. Bob Menendez to resign Friday, saying it’s in the best interest of the state for him to do so.
“It doesn’t matter what your job title is or your politics – no one in America is above the law,” US Rep. Andy Kim said in a statement, calling the allegations “serious and alarming.”
“I don’t have the confidence that the Senator has the ability to properly focus on our state and its people while addressing such a significant legal matter,” Kim said. “He should step down.”
US Rep. Mikie Sherrill called it a “sad day for New Jersey,” in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“These are serious allegations against Senator Menendez and if proven true, there is no room for this kind of conduct in public service,” Sherrill said.
6:28 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
New Jersey Democratic leaders join call for Menendez to step down
From CNN's Nicki Brown
New Jersey Democratic leaders have joined Gov. Phil Murphy in calling for the resignation of Sen. Bob Menendez.
"The charges laid out against Senator Menendez today go against everything we should believe as public servants," New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said in a statement. "We are given the public's trust, and once that trust is broken, we cannot continue."
In a separate statement, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chair LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. said the allegations are "incredibly serious and raise many disturbing questions," adding that the "best course of action" is for Menendez to resign.
And New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari also called for Menendez to resign following news of the charges.
"Today is a sad day for our state," Scutari said in a statement Friday. "The allegations laid out in today's indictment are alarming, and they raise serious questions about the Senator's ability to continue to serve."
Scutari's statement continued: "I believe Senator Menendez must resign from office to pursue his defense and allow our state and our nation to move forward."
5:47 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
New Jersey governor calls on Menendez to resign
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy called on Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to resign after the senator was charged with corruption-related offenses today for the second time in 10 years.
"The alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation," he wrote in a statement.
Here's the full statement from the governor:
"The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing. These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system. Under our legal system, Senator Menendez and the other defendants have not been found guilty and will have the ability to present evidence disputing these charges, and we must respect the process. However, the alleged facts are so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state. Therefore, I am calling for his immediate resignation."
5:06 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
Sen. Menendez's wife and one of his co-defendants deny wrongdoing
From CNN's Kara Scannell
A lawyer for Nadine Menendez, the wife of Sen. Bob Menendez, said she would fight the federal indictment.
“Mrs. Menendez denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously defend against these allegations in court,” said her attorney, David Schertler.
CNN also has reached out to attorneys for the Menendez’ three co-defendants Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes for comment.
A spokesperson for Hana issued the following statement:
“We are still reviewing the charges but based upon our initial review, they have absolutely no merit. Mr. Hana is expected to voluntarily return to the US from Egypt and appear in court on Wednesday.”
4:42 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
Key things to know about the bribery charges announced against Menendez — and what comes next in the case
From CNN's Kara Scannell and Katelyn Polantz
Sen. Bob Menendez gets in an elevator outside the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 13. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years. He previously fought off conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud charges from the Justice Department related to alleged personal favors.
Menendez is up for reelection next year, and has been in the Senate since 2006. Senate Democratic Caucus rules will force Menendez to step aside as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he can still serve on the panel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Friday afternoon that Menendez has decided to step down temporarily from his position as chairman of the committee "until the matter has been resolved."
Here's what to know about the charges announced Friday — and what is expected to happen next in the case:
Accusations of corruption: Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment. Prosecutors allege the bribes included gold, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a “low-or-no-show job” and a luxury vehicle.
Menendez is charged with three alleged crimes, including being on the receiving end of a bribery conspiracy. The conspiracy counts also charge his wife Nadine, and three people described as New Jersey associates and businessmen, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. The group is accused of coordinating to use Menendez’s power as a US senator to benefit them personally and to benefit Egypt.
Searches turned up $500,000 in cash and more: According to the indictment, searches of Menendez’ home and safe deposit box that federal agents conducted in 2022 turned up nearly $500,000 in cash, including in envelopes inside jackets emblazoned with Menendez’s name. Prosecutors say some of the envelopes had the fingerprints or DNA of one of the business contacts from whom the senator is accused of taking bribes.
The federal investigators who searched Menendez’s home also found a “luxury vehicle paid for by [Jose] Uribe parked in the garage,” as well as home furnishings from other business contacts and gold bars.
Menendez slams indictment: In a statement Friday, the senator criticized the indictment and the charges against him. “The excesses of these prosecutors is apparent,” he said. “They have misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office. On top of that, not content with making false claims against me, they have attacked my wife for the longstanding friendships she had before she and I even met.”
First court appearance next week: Menendez, his wife and the three New Jersey businessmen they were indicted alongside them will appear in federal court at 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, according to the US attorney’s office.
All five defendants indicted on Friday could face up to 20 years behind bars if convicted on the conspiracy to commit honest services fraud charge — and five years if convicted on the conspiracy to commit bribery charge.
Federal prosecutors said the investigation into Menendez is "very much ongoing" and called on the public and additional witnesses to come forward.
4:40 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
Schumer says Menendez will temporarily step down as Foreign Relations Committee chairman
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Friday that Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has "rightly decided to step down temporarily from his position as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee until the matter has been resolved.”
Schumer said the senator has "been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey" and "has a right to due process and a fair trial."
3:07 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
Sen. Menendez could face up to 20 years in prison on most serious charge he faces
From CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz and Kara Scannell
All five defendants indicted on Friday could face up to 20 years behind bars if convicted on the conspiracy to commit honest services fraud charge — and five years if convicted on the conspiracy to commit bribery charge.
Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also have been charged with an additional count of conspiracy to commit extortion, which also carries a 20-year maximum prison sentence.
Most defendants do not receive the maximum prison sentence allowed under federal law, and any sentencing is decided by judge presiding over the case.
2:38 p.m. ET, September 22, 2023
White House declines to comment on Sen. Menendez indictment
From CNN's Donald Judd
The White House declined to comment Friday following the news New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez was charged with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years, citing the Department of Justice's investigation as “an active matter.”
“So, a couple of things—I’m going to be really careful here, this is a not comment, because this is an active matter,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during Friday’s press briefing. “We learned about this just like all of you, but again, this is an active matter, so I'm not going to comment.”
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes" in exchange for the senator's influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment.
Prosecutors allege the bribes included gold, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a "low-or-no-show job" and a luxury vehicle.
