New York, April 3
US Senator Robert Menendez
has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges at his arraignment
in federal court in Newark, New Jersey.
The New Jersey Democrat's
attorney, Abbe Lowell told Judge William Walls on Thursday that
Menendez was entering a not-guilty plea for each of the 14 counts filed
against him, including eight for bribery and three for honest services
fraud, Efe news agency reported.
Menendez "accepted close to $1
million worth of lavish gifts and campaign contributions" from Salomon
Melgen, a Dominican-born Florida ophthalmologist, the Justice Department
said Wednesday.
In exchange, the lawmaker used "the power of his
Senate office to influence the outcome of ongoing contractual and
Medicare billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars to Melgen
and to support the visa applications of several of Melgen's
girlfriends".
"The indictment alleges that, among other gifts,
Menendez accepted flights on Melgen's private jet, a first-class
commercial flight and a flight on a chartered jet; numerous vacations at
Melgen's Caribbean villa in the Dominican Republic and at a hotel room
in Paris; and $40,000 in contributions to his legal defence fund and
over $750,000 in campaign contributions," the department said.
"Menendez never disclosed any of the reportable gifts that he received from Melgen on his financial disclosure forms," it added.
Menendez,
who was released on his own recognizance, said he had a "real
friendship" with Melgen, and that the gifts he received were therefore
not part of a corrupt relationship.
Melgen, who lives in Florida, also pleaded not guilty during the same hearing and was released on $1.5-million bail.
He
was required to surrender his Dominican and US passports. Menendez had
to turn over his personal passport but was allowed to keep his official,
Senate passport.
In a statement upon exiting the Newark
courthouse, Menendez reiterated that the Justice Department's
allegations were false and based on salacious rumours, adding that he
would finally have the chance to respond in court.
Menendez on
Wednesday said he was temporarily stepping down as the top-ranking
Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee until his case was
resolved.
The trial date has been tentatively set for July 13, although it could be pushed back at the request of Menendez's defence team.
Menendez is seen as one of the most influential Hispanics on Capitol Hill.
