Sen. Bob Menendez files motion to dismiss bribery indictment against him

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on Wednesday filed a motion to dismiss an indictment charging him with bribery and acting as a foreign agent to benefit the Egyptian government.

Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were charged in September with bribery for allegedly accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in exchange for using the Democratic senator’s influence to enrich three New Jersey businessmen and aid the foreign government.

Sen. Bob Menendez and Salomon Melgen still face 11 counts, including conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud. Menendez faces an additional count of making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) | Seth Wenig

Attorneys for Menendez wrote that the charges should be dismissed on “Speech and Debate Clause” grounds, according to court records filed Wednesday. United States District Judge Sidney Stein, who is presiding over the case, will make the decision over the latest motion to dismiss.

The New Jersey Democrat was handed a superseding indictment in October alleging he “provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the government of Egypt” during his time as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Menendez, his wife, and the businessmen have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A federal grand jury last week levied a second superseding indictment against Menendez, alleging he assisted one of the businessmen, a New Jersey developer, with obtaining an investment worth millions of dollars from a company with ties to Qatar. The senator also allegedly texted the developer about the scheme, the indictment said.

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Menendez on Tuesday issued a strong denial of the new allegations during remarks on the Senate floor, characterizing the allegations as “sensational.”

“I’m innocent, and I intend to prove my innocence,” Menendez said. “Not just for me, but for the precedent this case will set for you and future members of the Senate.”