NEW YORK (AP) — New obstruction of justice crimes had been added Tuesday to costs in opposition to Sen. Bob Menendez and his spouse that allege they accepted gold bars, money and a luxurious automotive in return for favors the senator carried out to help three businessmen.
The new costs had been in a rewritten indictment returned in opposition to the Democrat in Manhattan federal court docket.
New costs of conspiracy to hinder justice and obstruction of justice had been added in opposition to Menendez and his spouse, Nadine.
An indictment already alleges that the couple conspired with three businessmen to just accept the bribes in return for the senator’s assist in tasks pursued by the businessmen. Both have pleaded not responsible, together with two of the businessmen. A May trial has been scheduled.
One businessman pleaded responsible to costs final week and agreed to testify at trial in opposition to the others.
After his fall arrest, Menendez, 70, was pressured to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee however stated he wouldn’t resign from Congress.
According to an indictment, Menendez and his spouse accepted gold bars and money from an actual property developer in return for the senator utilizing his clout to get that businessman a multimillion-dollar cope with a Qatari funding fund.
Menendez additionally was charged with serving to one other New Jersey enterprise affiliate get a profitable cope with the federal government of Egypt.