Senator Robert Menendez is charged with accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars in exchange for political favors at home and abroad.

By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Jury selection began in the corruption trial of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez on Monday, with a judge excusing dozens of prospective jurors in a case that could affect the Democrat's political future and the makeup of the U.

Jury selection is underway in the federal criminal trial against Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.Y., who is charged for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for official acts.