CNN: Judge drops 4 bribery charges, leaves most of case against Menendez intact

By Evan Perez, Sept. 28, 2015, CNN

Washington (CNN)A federal judge on Monday dismissed four bribery counts against New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, leaving intact most of the Justice Department's case against the Democrat.

Menendez was charged in April with 18 counts, including 12 bribery counts that survived Monday's ruling.

The four counts dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge William Walls relate to donations Menendez's friend and Democratic Party donor Salomon Melgen made to a Menendez legal defense fund called "The Fund to Uphold the Constitution."

The judge said the government's charges didn't meet the necessary legal hurdle to show specific a quid pro quo for the donations.

More: www.cnn.com