Cash and gold in exchange for political favors, the allegations against a sitting U.S.

Senator are damning.

The lead starts right now.

Nearly half a million dollars stuffed in envelopes of Mercedes-Benz, even gold bars,

the high price gifts allegedly given, Deformed Relations Chairman Bob Minindas and his wife,

as the Senator faces a second corruption case in less than 10 years.

Plus, new video of Ukraine on the attack after more than a year in war.

This time, Zelensky's forces confirm a successful hit on Russia's fleet in the Black Sea.

And auto-strike escalated, more workers hit the picket lines in dozens more locations.

This action could directly directly impact you if your car needs to be repaired.

Welcome to the lead.

I'm Pam LaBrown, in for Jake Tapper, and we start with U.S. Senator Bob Minindas,

the New Jersey Democrat and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused in a sweeping

indictment today, charged with accepting bribes, pressuring a U.S. official, and spilling

sensitive U.S. information to benefit a foreign government.

The indictment lays out how federal agents rated Minindas' home last summer, finding

a stash of gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Apparently, half a million dollars in cash stuffed inside envelopes inside jackets

bearing the Senator's name, and a gifted Mercedes convertible.

Minindas' wife is also charged.

And according to the indictment, she was paid for a little to no work.

Also named in the indictment, three New Jersey businessmen.

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