TODAY SENATOR MENENDEZ'S CO-DEFENDANT JOE URIBE PLEADED GUILTY AND AGREED TO COOPERATE IN BRIBERY CASE
"Uribe Pleaded Guilty To Seven Counts Including Conspiracy To Commit Bribery & Obstruction Of Justice."
Friday, March 1, 2024, 5:00 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News, UPI Contributing,
MANHATTAN, NY.- A Co-Defendant in The Criminal Corruption Case against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, (D-NJ.) has Pleaded Guilty Today in New York Federal Court and Agreed to cooperate in The Prosecution of The New Jersey Democrat.
A Former New Jersey Insurance Broker, Joe Uribe Pleaded Guilty Friday in Manhattan Federal District Court to Seven Counts, which included Conspiracy to Commit Bribery; Honest Services Wire Fraud; Obstruction of Justice; Tax Evasion; and Three Other Charges.
The Passaic County, New Jersey resident, and Two other Businessmen have been accused of having a Corrupt Relationship with Senator Menendez and his Wife Nadine. The Prosecution has Alleged that Menendez and his Wife accepted Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Cash, Gold Bars, a Mercedes-Benz Coupe, Home Mortgage Payments, and various other things in part of that relationship.
The other Defendants in the Case, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, and Two other Businessmen are all Scheduled to Stand Trial on May 6, 2024, in Manhattan U.S. Federal District Court.
The Senator has maintained his innocence and has ignored numerous calls for him to step down from The Senate, but after being charged Menendez did step down from his position as Chair of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Everything I've accomplished I've worked for despite the naysayers and everyone who has underestimated me," Menendez said in September. "I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet. But as I stated throughout this whole process. I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey's Senior Senator."
Uribe's Plea Today, affirms many of The Charges against Menendez. The Businessman admitted he lied to Prosecutors that the payments he made on the car were a loan. Prosecutors said The False Statement was "an effort to interfere with the investigation into Menendez.
This is not the first time Senator Menendez has faced Criminal Charges. Menendez was Indicted almost a Decade Ago. In 2017 Investigation probed ties between Menendez and his Longtime Friend and Donor Salomon Melgen. The Two-Stood Trial in Federal Court in connection with Menendez giving favors to Melgen after he paid for trips and expenses for Menendez, but The Two were Later Acquitted.
In 2012, the year Menendez won a Second Term as Senator, a Franklin Lakes Donor Joseph Bigica, admitted to Federal Authorities he made Illegal Campaign Contributions to The Senator. Menendez said he was a Victim and donated the money to charities.
In 2013, a Federal Investigation uncovered that The Developers of The Massive Meadowlands Retail and Entertainment Complex, now called The American Dream were reportedly asked to contribute $50,000 to Menendez's Campaign Fund allegedly in return for Menendez's help in getting permits from The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Federal Authorities did not pursue the allegation.
Then in 2006, Menendez came under investigation by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Cristie, who later became New Jersey Governor, on suspicion of Steering Federal Funds to a Local Non-Profit, but Prosecutors declined to file charges.
With Uribe's Plea on Friday, it is becoming evermore apparent that Menendez's luck might be running out, he might want to heed, to his colleague's requests and Resign from The U.S. Senate.
FILED UNDER: MARCH 1, 2024: NATIONAL, LOCAL, POLITICS, WASHINGTON: