Senator Robert Menendez, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to charges of acting as an agent of the Egyptian government while serving as a member of Congress. The senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are accused of accepting bribes, including stacks of gold bars and a luxury car, in exchange for providing "sensitive US government information" to help Egypt's government. The couple has both pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges.

According to federal prosecutors, the couple accepted bribes from three New Jersey businessmen to use Mr. Menendez's position to push for increased US aid and military sales to Egypt. Additionally, prosecutors allege that Mr. Menendez used his influence and power to breach his official duty in ways that benefited the government of Egypt. It is alleged that he encouraged fellow senators to lift a hold on $300 million in aid to Egypt and provided sensitive US government information to assist the country.

The conspiracy is said to have occurred between January 2018 and June 2022. Under US law, members of Congress are prohibited from working on behalf of another country's government. Despite the charges, Mr. Menendez has vowed not to resign from his position.

During his appearance in court, the senator and his wife walked hand in hand out of the Manhattan courtroom without taking any questions from reporters. Mr. Menendez released a statement later in the day asserting his innocence and claiming that the government's charges were politically motivated.

In a separate development, Mr. Menendez also faced a new charge of conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent for the Egyptian government. The charge alleges that Mr. Menendez took actions on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials between 2018 and 2022. He entered a not guilty plea to this charge as well.

The senator's wife, Nadine Menendez, and one of the businessmen involved in the case, Wael Hana, have also pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiring to act as a foreign agent. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, individuals must register with the Department of Justice if they act as an agent of a foreign principal.

Despite facing multiple charges and calls from more than 30 Senate Democrats to resign, Mr. Menendez has remained defiant, proclaiming his innocence and stating that he will be exonerated. His criminal trial is scheduled to begin in six months.

In the meantime, Mr. Menendez has faced repercussions, including stepping down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and being barred from an intelligence briefing on the Israel-Hamas war. The senator has resisted calls to resign and has received support from some donors, with roughly $8.6 million in campaign funds that could be used for legal costs. A separate defense fund set up by Mr. Menendez has raised $275,000.