Menendez denies new charge, professes loyalty to America

Following a new federal charge accusing him of acting as an unregistered foreign agent, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is still professing his innocence, saying in a statement that he has never worked on behalf of the Egyptian government and that he remains loyal to the United States.

“The government’s latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi, on these issues,” Menendez’s statement reads. “I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country – the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.”

“Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true,” the statement continues. “The facts haven’t changed, only a new charge. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic. I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence.”

Last month, Menendez was indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly trading favors and sensitive information in exchange for cash and gifts from three New Jersey businessmen. One of those businessmen, Wael Hana, allegedly made connections between Menendez and Egyptian government officials who sought to influence the senator.

Menendez flatly denied those initial charges, and has resisted widespread calls for his resignation. He and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty in their first court appearances two weeks ago.

The new charge released today is a continuation – and an escalation – of the existing case. At the time of some of the alleged misdeeds, Menendez was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a role that gave him immense power over foreign affairs policy.

Hana also denied the foreign agent charge through his lawyer.

“The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false,” Hana’s lawyer, Larry Lustberg, said in a statement. “As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation.”