Indicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez Filing to Run for Reelection as an Independent
The once-esteemed Democrat reportedly will file nominating petitions in the middle of his federal corruption trial to seek reelection to a fourth Senate term
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Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine ArslanianNew Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez plans to run for reelection amid his criminal trial on federal bribery, extortion and fraud charges.
The New Jersey Globe, NBC News and ABC News report that Menendez will file nominating petitions in Trenton on Monday, June 3, to seek reelection for a fourth term — this time as an independent.
Menendez "has no campaign staff and is managing his own race," according to The Globe.
Related: Sen. Bob Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Bribery and Corruption Charges
The longtime Democrat and his wife, Nadine, were indicted in September following an investigation into their business dealings with three men who have ties to Egypt's government.
Both the senator, 69, and Nadine, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charges laid out in a 39-page indictment, which alleges that the couple accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes in exchange for protecting the three businessmen — Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes — and to "benefit" the government of Egypt.
Prosecutors have argued that some of those bribes came in the form of gold bars, luxury vehicles, and envelopes stuffed with cash.
"Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the home, along with over $70,000 in Nadine Menendez's safe deposit box," the indictment alleges.
The indictment further alleges that the senator "provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt," and "improperly advised and pressured an official at the United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose of protecting a business monopoly" granted to one of the businessmen, Hana, by the country of Egypt.
The couple are charged with three counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
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Menendez, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, previously served as a U.S. congressman, state senator, state representative, and the mayor of Union City, N.J.
By running as an independent, Menendez will avoid facing a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who announced that he would run for the Senate seat as a Democrat just days after the indictment was unsealed.
Menendez's trial began in May and is expected to continue over the next few weeks.
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