Menendez defends record, claims he will be exonerated and remain New Jersey's senior senator

WASHINGTON − Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said Monday he expects to be exonerated and will remain as New Jersey's senior senator after the southern district of New York indicted the New Jersey lawmaker Friday alleging charges of corruption and bribery.

Menendez said during a news conference in Union City, New Jersey, that those who have called for his resignation have based judgements off a "limited set of facts."

"I understand how deeply concerning this could be, however the allegations leveled against me are just that, allegations," he said.

Menendez addressed each of the charges listed in the indictment that allege he and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold, mortgage payments and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for enriching the Egyptian government.

"I firmly believe that when all of the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey's senior senator," he said.

The New Jersey lawmaker reiterated his record with Egypt and said he has held the country accountable for human rights abuses, repression of its citizens and more.

Menendez allegedly passed along "highly sensitive" information about staffers at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, according to the indictment. Menendez also exerted "substantial influence" over military financing to Egypt, according to the indictment.

In regard to the hundreds of thousands of dollars FBI agents found when executing a search warrant at his home, Menendez said he often withdraws thousands of dollars of cash from his personal savings account to keep for emergencies.

Having stepped down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted, he said he plans to return to Washington this week to work with his colleagues to avert a looming government shutdown.

"For those who have rushed to judgment, you have done so based on a limited set of facts, framed by the prosecution to be as salacious as possible. Remember, prosecutors get it wrong sometimes. Sadly, I know that," he said during the news conference.

Menendez is also accused of interfering with a New Jersey attorney general’s investigation of a relative of a New Jersey businessman, who is a co-defendant in the indictment, as well as attempting to influence the federal prosecution of another Garden State businessman, another co-defendant.

Menendez faces second indictment

Friday's indictment marks the second time in 10 years the New Jersey lawmaker has been indicted.

The New Jersey lawmaker was previously indicted in 2015 when prosecutors alleged he used his office to benefit a Florida eye doctor in exchange for nearly $1 million in gifts and campaign contributions. Menendez repeatedly defended himself and said he did nothing wrong. He faced 14 criminal counts, including eight counts of bribery.

Menendez was later cleared of the criminal charges three years later after the Justice Department asked a federal court to dismiss the 2015 indictment.

Menendez faces calls for resignation

While calls for him to resign have grown, Menendez has remained defiant, denying the indictment’s allegations and saying in a statement last week he is “not going anywhere.”

Almost all of New Jersey’s Democratic House delegation has publicly called on Menendez to step down, including Donald Norcross, Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell and Mikie Sherrill, along with Gov. Phil Murphy.

Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., has announced he will be challenging the sitting senator in the New Jersey Senate race. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio., have both called for Menendez to resign.

More: How common are indictments in the Senate? Here's a look at senators who faced charges

Contributing: Ken Tran

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Bob Menendez claims he will be exonerated after corruption charges