Menendez pleads not guilty to federal bribery charges 

(New York, NY) -- New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife are pleading not guilty to bribery charges.  

They were in federal court in Lower Manhattan today.  

He and his wife and two co-defendants were released on bond and are expected back in court next month for what could be the start of the trial.  

Menendez is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and gifts in exchange for using his influence to enrich three businessmen and improperly help the government of Egypt.  

Menendez insists he will be exonerated and refuses to step down despite numerous high profile Democrats calling for his resignation.