>> on NJ Spotlight News.

Indicted -- Senator Bob Menendez accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of our -- dollars and gold bars and luxury items in exchange for favors.

>> This is just a fraction of the cash that was uncovered.

>> The Democratic senator faces federal corruption charges for the second time despite DNA and fingerprint evidence.

He calls it a smear campaign to silence his voice and dig his political grave.

>> You have to prove a explicit quid pro quo, this or that.

And they lay that out.

>> Also fighting climate change.

>> rising sea levels, increasing storm risk, wildfire season's that have now become wildfire years.

This is the time for action.

>> They double down on their controversial state action plan.

And no confidence Rucker State University president gets slapped with a no-confidence resolution.

Will he be forced to resign?

NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

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♪ >> From NJPBS this is NJ Spotlight news with Brianna Vannozzi.

Good evening and thanks for joining us this Friday night.

I'm Brianna Vannozzi.

We begin with breaking news, New Jersey's senior U.S. senator Bob Menendez has been indicted.

Menendez and his wife have been accused of accepting hundreds and thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for the powerful Democratic senator's influence.

The bribery scheme was made public today by federal prosecutors charging him with federal bribery and corruption related offenses for the second time in 10 years.

Prosecutors detailed brazen acts allegedly taken by Menendez and his wife as part of a corrupt relationship that protected three New Jersey businessmen and benefited the Egyptian government.

The federal agent alleged that from 2018 until 2022 the senator and his wife received cash, gold bars, home mortgage payments, a luxury car and even exercise equipment.

The indictment alleges in return Menendez the chair of a powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee helped the businessmen by secretly providing Egypt with a -- sensitive U.S. government information attempted to influence criminal investigations at the New Jersey attorney generals' office.

And it influences the nomination of the attorney.

He is denying the charges.

New Jersey Democrats have been largely silent on the indictment.

While Republicans are calling for the senator to step down.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports.

Brenda: sending shockwaves across the political landscape they announced a three count indictment alleging bribery and corruption by Senator Bob Menendez.

It is a second time New Jersey senior Senators faced federal charges.

>> The senator and his wife excepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange Senator Menendez using his power and influence.

Brenda: they helped enrich and protect three New Jersey businessmen who were also indicted and defended the government of Egypt all in return for a staggering file of loot.

Photos of gold bars worked $150,000, a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz, and envelope stuffed with cash, that is part of a breathtaking cash alleged bribes that he reportedly traded for influence.

Between 2018 and 2022.

The FBI searched the net as residents.

>> We discovered approximately $500,000 cash stuffed in envelopes and closets.

Some of the cash was in the senator jacket pockets.

Some of the envelopes of cash contained fingerprints and Davies DNA.

Brenda: this is a developer of Hudson River front properties.

He is awaiting sentencing.

The indictment alleges minute as tried to influence the president choice of U.S. attorney in New Jersey to seek someone who Menendez believed could be influenced to disrupt the same prosecution of Davies.

The indictment also accuses the senator of accepting the Mercedes-Benz in trying to derail an investigation of the Attorney General.

>> Fortunately the public officials that he saw to influence did not bend to the pressure.

Brenda: the indictment charged met -- charge a third business.

They bribed him to lock down Hannah's monopoly certified week for Egypt.

>> He improperly pressured a senior official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect a monopoly that the government of Egypt awarded.

And then they used it to fund certain bribed payments.

Brenda: the most disturbing count is Menendez wielded his power is chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee to benefit the Egyptian government.

>> He provided sensitive nonpublic U.S. information to Egyptian officials and otherwise took steps to seek aid for the government of Egypt.

>> He abetted the schemes as a conduit for cash.

The indictment lays out a complex web of conspiracies with Rob -- bribery, fraud and extortion.

>> He used his power in this way because your rebate was paying bribes and Davies was paying bribes.

>> This is his second federal indictment.

He beat corruption charges in 2017 when the trial ended in a hung jury.

And he denied the charges asserting I have been falsely accused before because I refuse to back down to the powers that be.

The facts are not as presented.

He added for years forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig by political grave.

There's been an active spear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists.

This indictment will roil the next election season.

He is seeking a fourth turn and if he resigns he will have an appointed replacement.

They will appear in magistrate court Wednesday morning of next week.

In lower Manhattan, I'm Brenda Flanagan.

NJ Spotlight News.

Brianna: Manhattan U.S. Attorney indicated they investigation is ongoing.

The indictment is reverberating across New Jersey.

For more on potential implications I am joined by Chris former Assistant U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

Chris, these are stunning allegations and charges here.

What stood out to you when you read through this indictment?

OChris: the U.S. attorney took a clinical approach to drafting this.

The level of detail as I read it is an attempt to not just allege what needs to be alleged, but also foreclose any claimed defenses that they anticipate will be raised in the matter.

You know that they focus not just on the obvious like payments and official use of authority or official use of influence, they go into great detail about the evidence that they have had with that respect.

Brianna: Yeah they go so far as to lay out text conversations encrypted phone conversations and it is easy-to-read for the layperson.

We heard the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York encourage the public to read it.

Is there anything that you see that clearly proves that an official act was taken in exchange for these favors?

Of course that is where this all hinges.

Chris: I think it is important that as everyone is aware these are allegations that the defendants are entitled to their day in work and presumption of innocence.

The way it is laid out and the way they focus in great detail on the receipt and the important thing about the charges is bribery corruption and extortion is that you have to prove a specific Forex was it this for that.

And they lay that out.

Clinically.

And it reads is a classic quid pro quo.

What you see and corruption cases often times is defendants will try to use an intermediary or middle person.

In this case, it seems to be alleged that the middle person was Senator Menendez's wife.

The person and reason people engage in this kite -- type of activity is because they are trying to seal or hide their corrupt activity.

The fact that all of his valuables and money was in envelopes with fingerprints of other -- was in the Menendez's home.

I would argue that is additional intent to conceal.

Otherwise you take it to the bank.

If you take it to the bank you make the deposits and you track the deposits.

And so they really go to great links.

Brianna: There are so many examples.

To your point, with regard to conversations with officials in Egypt.

Maybe the most plain one was the purchase of the Mercedes-Benz, the convertible and how the cash was exchange.

The down payment was made, the automatic payments were set up.

The prosecutors really drew a lot of direct lines.

Is that the main difference here between the senator's previous federal corruption charges?

These more direct lines showing the quid pro quo?

Chris: I think so.

I am familiar with that indictment as well.

The Provo -- the quid pro pro -- pro quote -- there was so allegations that were temporary any us and there was official action exercised by Senator Menendez and a day or two later, the car is just and down payments are made by others.

They tie up the timeline quite tight.

I cannot read the senator's mind, but I feel after jury hung six years ago he probably felt himself -- largely invincible.

It is very rare but Department of Justice will circle back on a federal prosecution like this.

It appears that the alleged criminal activity picked up right there after.

Brianna: In fact the timeline almost overlaps in a lot of the incidents are alleged to start in 2018.

The mistrial happened just before that.

Where does the prosecution go from here?

We heard the U.S. attorney say we are not done yet.

Chris: I also think that is a signal to the others -- co-conspirators.

Oftentimes you see they are in the business they are trying to seek cooperation.

The codefendants have great in and of to come to the table and try to minimize their criminal ability as best they can.

And they seek the government support.

And that is by way of cooperation.

The businesses on the inside of the conspiracy can paint a picture for the jury precisely of what is happening and also say yes, this is what is going on in here is the evidence that indicates that.

Brianna: Thank you, Chris.

He is a former assistant or New Jersey and Maryland.

Thank you for your time on one is undoubtably a -- a historic day.

Risk: yes it is.

Thank you for your time.

Brianna: As the indictment dropped the governor was hosting Democratic governors across the country for the annual Democratic Governors Association Paul Pelosi conference.

It is what was happening -- policy conference.

It was what happened after that there was dozens of activists rallied carrying signs and chanting calling on the governor to get more aggressive with his clean energy goals which aims to reach 100% renewable energy by 2035.

Activists accuse the governor of being all talk pushing the administration to reject several pending fossil fuel projects across the state including more than $10 billion turnpike expansion project in Hudson County.

The proposal for natural gas pipeline expansion.

This is days after a massive march in New York City where tens of thousands turned out at the start of climate week to urge an end to all fossil fuels.

Despite all of the backlash on climate-related policies, the murky administration this week -- -- Murphy administration doubled down on the controversial parts of its clean agenda.

.

In a lengthy new statewide action plan released this week the Department of Environmental Protection recommitted to slashing global warming emissions and detailed a number of regulations and policy actions.

the department plans to use to get there.

For more on that I'm joined by the Commissioner of New Jersey Department of environmental -- thank you for joining me.

It is great to have you.

This plan that you all put out seems as though you are unfettered by the fact that you have gripped some buzz -- groups on both sides of the political aisle both environmentalists and business leaders giving you pushback about these procedures and plans that you are going forward with.

>> So, we should be clear, this climate week, and every week about the realities that our state is facing due to climate change.

Rising sea levels, increasing storm risk, wildfires seasons that have now become wildfire years.

This is a time for action, not true coney and mandates, not telling for all the thing they cannot do, but architecting the policy solutions that are going to protect our communities and our first responders like the grave New Jersey force fire service members who put their lives on the line to fight the wildfires cause.

In part by climate change and before -- for our state police who respond to the floods.

We have to honor our heroes through this climate action.

That doesn't mean taking away peoples stoves or cars, no one is planning that, but we are planning wrap up -- ramp up period that will help to motivate the already motivated market even more strongly to deliver clean energy solutions and to build a pathway.

It will take some time but I -- it is necessary.

Brianna: To that end, if wildfires and smoke from wildfires elsewhere in North America and homes being destroyed by flooding are not enough to get public by an -- by in would it not take a mandate for the government?

>> I think it takes three things.

Our climate action strategy is part of the first leg of the story.

That is the directional thought leadership and science that motivates policy.

The second leg is the incentive structures that help to motivate private and individual action.

Like the $2000 that folks can now save on an electric vehicle through state and federal incentive programs.

And third, it does take supported regulatory reform like our inlaid flood protection and the coming coastal flood protection rule.

Yes, the advance clean car standard that will over time wrap up the number of electric vehicles in our market.

It will not prevent people from buying a gasoline powered car.

That will still occur, but it better promote choices and diversifies the marketplace by putting in place the wise policy choices that will help get us there.

And the incentives that will help the people pay for those changes.

This is how we do it.

This is how we meet the climate moment.

No one is coming to take away anything.

We are diversifying toys and putting financial support behind it.

Brianna: Clear that up for us in the little bit of time that we have left.

The information out there about whether or not you are coming from gas stoves and gas cars and what the actual plan is.

>> I just bought my first all electric vehicle things to the support of our state and federal budget.

I am paying less of a car payment for that all electric vehicle and I was for my prior gas powered vehicle.

By the way.

No one is coming for your gas stove or gas powered vehicle.

There are always those who fear change.

Institutions and organizations who peddle misinformation and disinformation, that is a disservice to us all.

Brianna: Commissioner Sean, thank you so much.

>> Of pleasure as always.

Brianna: State leaders are dealing with another crisis that is affecting the youngest among us.

The rise in youth suicide and mental illness.

A new program at one of New Jersey's largest health care systems is pledging to train all of its primary care nurses on how to bought, evaluate, and treat kids and teens who show signs of seriously can during suicide.

All by 2025.

It comes as hospitals across the state are reporting increases in pediatric emergency room psychiatry visits.

We have more with the story.

-- Melissa Cooper has more with the story.

>> If it was not for the care but I was given despite rejecting it is much as I could I would not be standing here today.

Melissa: Gratitude after that I save her life with her struggling with depression as a teenager.

>> We are consumed by mental illness.

We are in so deep that we cannot hear this.

You may very well be in the first light coming out of the near-death suicide attempt and how you address them is vital.

Melissa: She is applauding the commitment for dealing with patients with young illness.

They are launching a program with a partnership for the society of team suicide that will train nurses on how to properly spot when adolescent need help.

>> The most state-of-the-art technology helps us know when a life-saving transplant is needed or the best approach to heal and fixate of fracture.

Even the most advanced equipment cannot always provide us with the ins right of a child's mental health and emotional well-being.

For this, we rely heavily on our dedicated and compassionate caring team members.

They interact with our patients and the families and even then it is not always easy to gauge a child emotional state of mind which today is so very important.

Melissa: the program provides training to more than 600 nurses.

Having them the tools to manage behavioral health needs of at-risk children.

>> These nurses are the ones who are organically becoming trusted adults.

These kids are dealing with despair, medical issues that can create anxiety and it is this training that will not only help these kids, it is going to help their families.

They are standing next to them going through this trauma with them.

The nurses will also have the tools to be able to talk to the families in ways that they need to be heard and listened to and know that that is part of their role.

>> We know suicide is the second cause of death in our youth.

Nurses are playing a critical role in suicide prevention.

They are key to the successful outcome.

And they play an extraordinary role in the clinical care and they are also advocates, intermediaries, and even counselors at times.

While we want to ensure our nurses are equipped with the resources they need to recognize the warning signs of suicide and identify the children who may need extra support.

Melissa: all the nurses are expected to receive training under the program by 2025.

For NJ Spotlight News I Melissa Rose Cooper.

Brianna: In our spotlight on business report of votes of no confidence.

Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway.

The University Senate today which is an advisory board representing faculty, students and alumni overwhelmingly voted on a no-confidence resolution.

89-40 seven.

Citing Holloway's disdain for the diverse community across all of the campuses.

By dismissing a tradition of shared government with the Senate and disregarding labor rise.

The boat comes after a special tumultuous year at the flagship university where they saw its first ever teachers strike last spring.

A controversial mood by the board of Governors to merge the records medical schools in new arc and New Brunswick.

And more recently the decision to not reappoint the popular chancellor of this.

The vote is largely symbolic.

According to higher Ed expert see it often results in the firing or resignation of the official.

>> This is about accountability.

Resident Holloway has had many chances to address the issues of shared governance which is what this is about.

On the whole.

And it is not done so.

At this point, passing this resolution is a formal statement that we have lost confidence.

Brianna: The United Auto Workers union expanded aches -- it's strike today against major carmakers.

Walking off the job at 38 General Motors distribution centers in 28 states.

More than 18,000 autoworkers are now part of the strike that began one week ago.

In a Facebook Live announcement today, UAW president Sean fame said Ford was faring additional strikes because the company met some of the union demands during negotiations over the past week making progress on issues including the cost of living adjustment.

Eliminating wage tiers and changing the profit sharing formula.

Ford says there are still significant gaps in the contract when it comes to key economic issues.

Many analysts believe the union will expand the strike to full-size Trump lands of the Detroit automakers.

They are critical to the profitability of the company.

On Wall Street, markets move higher today and it was Illa week of steep losses.

Here is today's closing trading numbers.

♪ Brianna: Make sure you tune into NJ this week with Raven Santana this week.

What is more Jersey than a diner?

Learn about the history of jerseys eight are unique use them exhibits and hear the company trying to visit every diner in the garden state.

Blodgett Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:00 p.m. on NJ news.

♪ Brianna: Tune into Reporters Roundtable this weekend.

We have the latest on the Senator Menendez indictment and we speak with George tell me about his departure from the role he has held since 2019.

That is Saturday at 6:00 and Sunday morning at 10:00 and on Chat Box, David goes one-on-one with the jersey -- New Jersey city Mayor to on the focus of his campaign and balancing it with running a major city.

That is Saturday at 30: and Sunday morning at 10:30 on NJPBS.

Do not forget to download our spotlight news podcast so you can listen anytime.

That is it for tonight, I am Rihanna, and for the entire NJ Spotlight News team.

Thank you for being with us.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you right back here on Monday.

♪ >> NJM Insurance Group has been serving New Jersey businesses for more than 100 years.

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And by the PSEG foundation.

>> Our future lies on more than clean energy, but the impact of communities that health and safety of our neighbors.

The PSEG foundation is committed to sustainability, equity, and economic empowerment.

Investing in arts, doping towns go Green.

Supporting civic centers, scholarships, and workforce development and -- that strengthen our community.

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