US Senator Menendez, his wife indicted for bribery
Robert Menendez and his wife accepted thousands in cash bribes in exchange for using the Senator's influence to protect and enrich the defendants in question and benefit Egypt.
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Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and his wife Nadine Arslanian pose for a photo on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 20, 2022 (AP)
According to an indictment published by the US Justice Department on Friday, US Senator Robert Menendez and his wife have been charged with bribery and conspiracy to conduct fraud and extortion under the guise of public authority.
“From at least 2018 up to and including in or about 2022, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, a.k.a. ‘Nadine Arslanian,’ the defendant, engaged in a corrupt relationship with three New Jersey associates and businessmen - Wael Hana a.k.a. ‘Will Hana,’ Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, the defendants - in which Menendez and Nadine Menendez agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using Menendez’s power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect and enrich Hana, Uribe and Daibes and to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt,” the indictment said.
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The Menendez couple accepted thousands in cash bribes in exchange for using the Senator's influence to protect and enrich the defendants and benefit Egypt.
According to the indictment, the bribes included cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, and other valuable items.
Menendez also provided the Egyptian government with sensitive government information and urged a US Department of Agriculture official to safeguard a business monopoly given by Egypt to Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman and long-time friend of Nadine Menendez.
Furthermore, Menendez nominated a candidate for the office of US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, whom he felt might influence the federal criminal investigation of real estate developer Fred Daibes, the indictment revealed.
All defendants face counts of conspiracy to conduct bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, while Menendez and his wife additionally face a count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official power.
On Friday, US Attorney Damian Williams reported that the case was ongoing during a press conference.
On his part, the US Senator has claimed he was the victim of an "active smear campaign" after the indictment against him and his wife was unsealed.
According to Menendez, "behind the scenes," forces have tried to "silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists."
