Menendez pleads not guilty to corruption charges
The New Jersey senator made his first court appearance since being indicted last week.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court Wednesday to bribery and extortion charges stemming from his relationship with three New Jersey businesspeople.
Federal prosecutors accused the senior senator last week of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and other gifts in exchange for using his office to benefit the businesspeople and the government of Egypt.
Menendez, 69, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion. He appeared in court in a navy pinstripe suit alongside his wife, Nadine Menendez, her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
She, too, is charged in the indictment, with prosecutors accusing her of facilitating the alleged bribery schemes by introducing her husband to some of the businesspeople and to Egyptian officials. She also pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The senator was released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond, and Magistrate Judge Ona Wang ordered him to surrender his personal passports, although she allowed him to keep his official passports.
As part of the conditions of his release, the judge also restricted Menendez’s travel, saying he can travel abroad only for official business and only with prior notice to the court.
Two of the businesspeople who were charged in the indictment, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, also pleaded not guilty Wednesday. The third businessman, Wael Hana, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
