The bribery charge against

Menendez Bob Menendez with his wife Nadine Menendez Jacquelyn Martin/AP 

 

The bribery charge against 

NJ governor calls for bribery-accused senator to resign  

 

A growing number of Democrats are calling for the resignation of Democratic Senator Bob Menendez after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery charges. One of them is New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, several media outlets report. 

 

"The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four others are extremely serious, affecting national security and the integrity of our justice system," he said in a statement.  

 

Murphy adds that this means that it is no longer possible for the senator to represent the state of New Jersey. 

 

On Friday, Menendez announced that he is temporarily leaving his post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  

 

Prosecutor Damian Williams presents the charge Robert Bumsted / AP  

 

Senator charged with bribery - had gold bars at home 

 

Democrat Bob Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is charged with accepting bribes. The New York Times reports that hundreds of thousands of dollars, including gold bars, were found at the home of the veteran politician in New Jersey.  

 

According to the accusations, the 69-year-old has, among other things, obtained classified information for the Egyptian government in order to help a businessman. The other charges concern that he allegedly tried to influence criminal investigations against two business owners in New Jersey. 

 

It is not the first time the senator has been accused of corruption. Six years ago, he was tried in a similar case, which ended in an acquittal because the jury could not agree on an outcome.