For The Second Time Since Taking Office New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez Will Stand Trial On Bribery Offenses
Friday, May 10, 2024, 8:30 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MANHATTAN, NY.- On Monday, the Federal corruption trial of New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez is slated to begin in the Southern District of New York. Monday's trial will be the second time since taking office in 2006, that Menendez has faced Federal Bribery and Influence Peddling offenses.
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Menendez has maintained his innocence since he was initially indicted on September 22, 2023, on bribery and corruption charges with his wife, Nadine Menendez, and three New Jersey businessmen. Since the unsealing of the September indictment, Federal Prosecutors have expanded the charges in two superseding indictments to include Obstruction of Justice and Conspiring to Act as a Foreign Agent. It has been alleged that Menendez, his wife, and one of the New Jersey businessmen used Menendez's position as U.S. Senator to benefit the government of Egypt.
U.S. Federal Law prohibits Menendez, a sitting public official, from serving as a foreign agent. Menendez will face sixteen criminal counts, while his wife, Nadine, will be tried separately due to an undisclosed health issue, and will face fifteen criminal counts.
Recently Senator Menendez indicated that he might incriminate his wife as he begins trial on Monday, along with two of the New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. All three and Menendez's wife have pleaded not guilty. The third businessman Jose Uribe pleaded guilty earlier this year and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The Menendezes have been accused of accepting lavish gifts, including just a little under half a million dollars in cash, more than a dozen gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible coup, and home mortgage payments for their Bergen County home, from the businessmen who allegedly sought to use Menendez's power as Senator to benefit their businesses and the government of Egypt and Qatar as well disrupting criminal prosecutions. Menendez and his wife then tried to cover up the bribes by writing checks to the three businessmen listing them as loan repayments, according to Federal Authorities.
In a statement on September 22, 2023, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "As the grand jury charged, between 2018 and 2022, Senator Menendez and his wife engaged in a corrupt relationship with Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, three New Jersey businessmen who collectively paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold, a Mercedes-Benz, and other things of value in exchange for Senator Menedez agreeing to use his power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen and benefit the Government of Egypt. My Office is firmly committed to rooting out corruption, without fear or favor, and without any regard to partisan politics. We will continue to do so."
Since the initial September indictment and the superseding indictments, Menendez has proclaimed his innocence and defended his cash stockpile as an "Old-Fashioned Cuban Family Tradition." Menendez's attorneys stated in a recent court filing that they want a psychiatrist to testify about significant traumatic events in Menendez's life that led to him withdrawing large amounts of cash and storing it in his home. Allegedly Menendez has said his family had funds confiscated by the Cuban government along with his father's suicide. Federal Prosecutors have objected to Menendez's claim.
Menendez is one of several current and former members of Congress, former Republican House Member George Santos, and Democratic House Member Henry Cuellar who have been indicted and are now facing Federal Criminal Charges.
Since being indicted Menendez has ignored calls to resign from his Senate Seat, denying any wrongdoing. Some elected officials, including New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, have publicly urged him to step down. Following the indictment Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker and senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi said that she felt Menendez should resign.
But in early March, Menendez said he would not run in New Jersey's Democratic Primary but said he could seek reelection as an independent if he is acquitted on the charges.
Menendez's trial which is slated to last several weeks will be a test to see how jurors weigh the evidence against elected officials.
FILED UNDER: MAY 10, 2024: NATIONAL, LOCAL, POLITICS, LAW, WASHINGTON: