Menendez lawyers accuse Justice Department of misconduct

Sen. Robert Menendez, indicted on corruption charges, accused federal prosecutors Monday of misconduct that included allowing an FBI agent to give false testimony — saying the Justice Department would “stop at nothing” to convict the powerful lawmaker. The allegation was included in multiple court filings submitted by lawyers for Menendez (D-N.J.) seeking a dismissal of the charges. The senator’s legal team also argued that the Justice Department had ignored a law shielding members of Congress from criminal prosecution when they are doing their official jobs as legislators. The defense team also claimed prosecutors “advanced salacious allegations of sexual misconduct” while they “intimidated” witnesses and members of the Menendez family. The motions, totaling more than 400 pages, are the first salvo in what is expected to be a bitter court battle over whether Menendez committed a crime.