What to know about New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez’s trial

CNN — A sitting US senator faces a weekslong trial over charges of taking bribes including gold bars, cash and a luxury car to, among other things, help push US aid and weapons to a foreign government and stop a federal case against one of his co-defendants.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who faces 16 charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to obstruct justice, has rejected calls to resign and, while he won’t run in the state’s primary for his seat, has left open the possibility for an independent run following his trial.

The senator told CNN’s Manu Raju on Capitol Hill last week, “I am looking forward to proving my innocence,” when asked repeatedly whether he would resign in the face of a potential conviction.

Prosecutors say Menendez and his wife, Nadine, helped several New Jersey businessmen – all of whom were charged in the conspiracy – obtain lucrative contracts with Egyptian and Qatari officials and attempted to pressure authorities to stop investigations into the businessmen and their associates.