New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has denied the federal corruption charges that were announced against him last week. He said that he will be exonerated and will remain the state's senior senator.
The indictment accuses Menendez and his wife of accepting bribes in exchange for the senator's political influence.
Investigators found $550,000 in cash and 13 bars of gold bullion at the couple's home in New Jersey in June 2022.
Prosecutors allege that the couple received hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for aid to Egypt.
The indictment also says that Menendez searched online for how much gold is worth and that he received a luxury Mercedes-Benz from one of the businessmen.
Menendez on Monday made his first public appearance since he was indicted. He has rejected calls from fellow Democrats to resign. Instead, Menendez said that he will run for re-election.
He criticized those who have publicly asked him to resign, saying that the public should not judge him until he has had a fair trial.
The US Senator said that the allegations against him are false and that he is innocent.
He said that the prosecution is only presenting a limited set of facts that make him look bad.
The indictment also says that Menendez searched online for how much gold is worth and that he received a luxury Mercedes-Benz from one of the businessmen.
Agents also discovered a high-end Mercedes-Benz, funded by one of the businessmen, in the garage.
According to the indictment, once the couple received the car, Mrs. Menendez sent a text to her husband, saying, "Congratulations, my love of life, we now own a 2019 Mercedes."
