Jury selection began today as Democratic Senator Bob Menendez is set to become the first sitting

senator ever tried for conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

The case is expected to last several weeks. Lisa Desjardan previews what's to come.

In Manhattan today a powerful New Jersey senator arrived to face everyday New Yorkers who will decide his fate. The start

of jury selection is the start of Democrat Bob Menendez's second bribery trial

in seven years. I don't see the willingness. The senior senator was accustomed to calling the shots from his perch atop the Senate Foreign

Relations Committee.

He stepped down as chair when charges came last fall.

But Menendez refuses to resign from office.

I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet, but as I have stated throughout this whole process,

I firmly believe that when all the facts are

presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be the New Jersey's

senior senator. The lawmaker is

accused of taking bribes to help individual businessmen as well as Egypt and

Gutter and then greasing billions in weapons and other deals passing along

information and pressuring officials.

My office remains firmly committed to rooting out public corruption without fear or favor

and without any regard to partisan politics. Prosecutors say they found what Menendez and his wife got in exchange.

A Mercedes convertible and inside their house,

gold bars worth a hundred and

and eighty thousand dollars in cash.

Menendez offered this explanation.

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