Embattled U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has just revealed that his wife has cancer. 

The Daily Mail reports that Menendez made the revelation in a statement that he released on Thursday.

This all comes as Menendez is facing corruption charges. The announcement came on day four of the trial. There will be more on this in a moment.

But, first, we'll look at Menendez's statement.

"Grade three breast cancer"

According to Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, has been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. The senator said that he and his wife have felt compelled to reveal this because of the way the press has been hounding them.

"As a result of constant press inquiries and reporters following my wife, she has asked me to disclose her medical condition. Nadine is suffering from Grade 3 breast cancer, which will require her to have mastectomy surgery," Menendez wrote.

He went on to provide further details about his wife's treatment plan.

"We are of course, concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease. She will require follow-up surgery and possibly radiation treatment. We hope and pray for the best results," he wrote.

The senator concluded, writing, "We ask the press and the public to give her the time, space, and privacy to deal with this challenging health condition as she undergoes surgery and recovery."

Background

It is not just Menendez but also his wife who is facing criminal charges, including acting as a foreign agent and taking bribes. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While Nadine Menendez's trial is not set to begin until July, Bob Menendez's trial is currently taking place. It began this past week.

CNN reports:

Bob Menendez has been charged with acting as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt and assisting the government of Qatar, all while taking bribes from several New Jersey businessmen. He is being tried with two of his co-defendants: Wael Hana, an Egyptian American businessman, and Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer, both of whom have also pleaded not guilty.

The outlet adds, "At his trial this week, the senator’s lawyer, Avi Weitzman, suggested to jurors during opening statements that many of the items the senator allegedly took as bribes – including gold bars and a luxury car – were owned or obtained by his wife."

Weitzman lawyer made this claim the day before Menendez revealed that his wife has cancer.