Menendez raises $400,000 for corruption case legal defense

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey's U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez reports his legal defense fund raised $430,000 and spent about $100,000 this year before his indictment on bribery and corruption charges.

The Democratic senator is fighting federal charges stemming from an April 1 indictment that alleges he helped a long-time friend and Florida eye doctor with his business dealings in exchange for trips to a lavish villa in the Dominican Republic and campaign donations.

Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges.

The filing with the IRS and the Senate covers money raised and spent from Jan. 1 through March 31. News of the pending indictment was first reported in March.

Menendez spent $100,000 for a Washington law firm and paid a fundraiser $7,500.
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