US Senator Bob Menendez, head of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, has been charged with corruption, the second case against the Democrat in less than a decade, federal prosecutors in New York announced on Friday.

According to prosecutor Damian Williams, the influential senator accepted “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in bribes from three New Jersey residents between 2018 and 2022 so that he would “use his power and influence to protect and enrich these businessmen and support the Egyptian government.” ”.

His wife Nadine Menéndez was also charged with this alleged crime.

The Federal Police (FBI) found in the couple’s home “wads of banknotes in the pockets of his jacket”, three kilos of “gold bars” and a luxury car, objects “that were part of the fraud”, he explained. prosecutor.

The senator strongly disputed the allegations. “For years, actors behind the scenes have tried to silence me and bury me politically,” he denounced in a press release.

Menéndez, 69, of Cuban descent and born in New York, is a veteran of Washington politics.

Who is Bob Menéndez, the senator who wants to bring Ecuador and the United States closer together?

Democratic New Jersey lawmaker in the House of Representatives between 1993 and 2006, and then senator, is one of the most influential voices on diplomatic issues in the American capital.

Menéndez has already had problems with federal justice: He was accused of corruption in 2015, but his trial, which was almost over in 2017, was canceled due to the lack of a unanimous verdict from the jury members.

The following year, the Justice Department (under Republican President Donald Trump) asked a judge to drop all corruption charges against Menendez, who was accused of using his position to advance the interests of a wealthy ophthalmologist and businessman friend, and Florida donor Salomon Melgen. in exchange for gifts and campaign financing. (JO)