In a dramatic court appearance on Monday, Senator Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty to a charge accusing him of secretly acting as an agent for the government of Egypt during his time as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This latest charge comes in addition to the bribery and extortion charges he already faces, which he also pleaded not guilty to in September.

The New Jersey Democrat, 69, appeared before a federal judge in Manhattan for less than 15 minutes, maintaining a stern and expressionless face throughout the proceeding. He entered his not guilty plea and declined to answer questions from swarms of reporters stationed outside the courthouse.

Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, was absent from his side during this appearance, unlike in September when she stood with him during his arraignment for conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Prosecutors allege that Menendez and his wife accepted substantial bribes, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, payments, a Mercedes-Benz, and even gold, in exchange for using his powerful position to assist three businesspeople and the Egyptian government. Both Menendez and his wife, along with the three businesspeople, had previously pleaded not guilty to the initial charges.

The indictment also accuses Menendez and his wife of acting as unregistered foreign agents for Egypt. The charging document states that Menendez, in his role as the Senate Foreign Relations chair, promised and took actions on behalf of the Egyptian government, including its military and intelligence officials. Nadine Menendez and one of the businesspeople charged, Wael Hana, allegedly communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator.

According to the superseding indictment, Menendez, his wife, and Hana met with an unnamed Egyptian intelligence official in May 2019 to discuss an American citizen injured in a 2015 Egyptian military airstrike. The official offered comfort if Menendez resolved the matter. In another instance, Menendez corresponded with the Egyptian official regarding a crucial policy issue, the Nile River dam, where the senator advocated for increased engagement from the State Department.

Menendez, who previously faced bribery charges resulting in a mistrial in 2017, staunchly maintains his innocence and claims he is being unfairly targeted by prosecutors. However, these latest accusations present the greatest political threat to his nearly 50-year career.

While Menendez has refused to step down from his position, there has been speculation about his political future. With dwindling support in New Jersey, it remains uncertain whether he will seek reelection next year, especially during a presidential year, which could potentially put a safe Democratic seat at risk. Menendez himself has acknowledged this predicament, stating, "I'm not going to jeopardize any seat in New Jersey under any circumstances."

The legal battle surrounding Senator Menendez continues to unfold, with the next court proceedings expected to shed more light on the allegations and their potential impact on the senator's political career.