 The New Jersey Democrat is charged in 16 of 18 counts. The 70-year-old Menendez has denied he engaged in a bribery scheme with three New Jersey businessmen, including by serving as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt. He and two of the businessmen who allegedly paid him bribes of gold and cash have pled not guilty. Julie Walker, New York. The second phase of the civil trial against the National Rifle Association and its top executives underway in New York.