Senior Democratic senator 'acted as an agent of Egypt'

Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine are charged with extortion. Photo: AP Photo/Susan Walsh

A senior Democratic senator who helped shape US foreign policy has been accused of acting as an unregistered agent for Egypt.

Senator Bob Menendez, 69, was forced to temporarily resign as head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month after being indicted on corruption charges.

Prosecutors accused him of abusing his powerful position and accepting bribes after a search of the New York senator's home -Gold bars and cash worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were discovered in Jersey.

< p>Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, 56, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

'On behalf of Egyptian intelligence'

The couple and their partner, Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman, were indicted on Thursday additional charges of failure to register as foreign agents.

According to the indictment, Mr. Menendez “undertook a number of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials, and conspired to do it «with my wife and Mr. Hana.»

It also alleges that he «provided confidential information to the US government and took other steps that secretly assisted the Egyptian government.»

Mr Menendez defies calls to resign, but the case is his second corruption charge over eight years—could have major consequences for his party's slim majority in the Senate.

Democrats will enter the 2024 elections with a narrow 51-49 margin. advantage in the chamber.

Fred Dibes, seen here leaving New York federal court, was one of two businessmen also facing charges Photo: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Prosecutors also accused Mr. Menendez of accepting cash in exchange for help defending two New Jersey businessmen from Justice Department investigations.

They said he helped a third, Mr. well Hana, with a business monopoly granted to him by the Egyptian government.

Last month, the New Jersey senator, his wife, Mr. Hana, and two other businessmen, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, were indicted on two counts of bribery and fraud.

Mr. Menendez and his the wife was also charged with extortion.

If convicted, the most serious of the charges could result in up to 20 years in prison.

The latter charge failed. A government official who registers as an agent of a foreign power faces up to two years in prison.

A Democratic heavyweight who served in Congress for three decades, Mr. Menendez has been influential in shaping U.S. foreign policy , while serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

During his tenure, he also helped oversee billions of dollars in American aid to Egypt. He has repeatedly denied his guilt and stated that he will eventually be exonerated.