Menendez ignores calls to resign as alleged Egypt bribery ties get exposed
The US Senate’s top foreign relations lawmaker struck a humbler note on Monday but remained defiant after federal prosecutors alleged he took bribes in exchange for facilitating US foreign arms sales and passed sensitive US government information to Egypt.
WASHINGTON — The top lawmaker on the US Senate’s powerful Foreign Relations Committee on Monday brushed aside calls from members of his own party to resign as he faces federal corruption charges involving alleged favors for the government of Egypt.
“I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey's senior senator,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said during a press conference in Union City, NJ.
“The court of public opinion is no substitute for our revered justice system,” Menendez said, adding, “Prosecutors get it wrong sometimes.”
Menendez faces calls from prominent New Jersey Democrats including Governor Kathy Hochul to resign over the indictment, in which prosecutors allege the influential foreign relations chair abused his position to facilitate US foreign arms sales to Egypt.
