Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey pleaded not guilty Monday to a new indictment charging him with obstruction of justice as part of a sprawling case that alleges he accepted money and leveraged his Capitol Hill position to act as a foreign agent for Egypt.
Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, were arraigned in the Southern District of New York.
The Democratic senator returned to the courthouse for his third plea in the case that also charges him with bribery and extortion.
Prosecutors last year alleged Mr. Menendez accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for actions benefiting foreign persons.
The indictment said gifts included gold bars and a luxury vehicle. The new charges allege the senator forced his lawyers to provide false information to investigators.
“Once again, not guilty your honor,” Mr. Menendez said Monday in the courtroom, and the judge stood by a May 6 trial date, according to ABC News.
Mr. Menendez, who survived a previous federal case against him, has rejected calls to resign from the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow majority.
He relinquished his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but has been coy about whether he will push for reelection this year. The senator and his wife walked straight to their car after court as reporters peppered him with questions about his future.
Prominent Democrats are lining up to replace him, with state first lady Tammy Murphy and Rep. Andy Kim among key Democrats running in a June primary.
Another defendant in the case, New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.