Topline
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was indicted by a federal court in New York Friday morning on criminal bribery charges for allegedly maintaining a “corrupt relationship” with three New Jersey businessmen, following a federal investigation into bribery and corruption that has left Menendez’ office marred in controversy.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was indicted on Friday on bribery charges.
Key Facts
The charges stem from Menendez’ relationship with three associates in New Jersey—Will Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes—who allegedly bribed Menendez with money, gold, home mortgage payments and a luxury car in exchange for “a series of official acts and breaches of official duty,” including by disrupting a state investigation into Uribe.
Menendez—the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—along with his wife, Nadine Menendez, were charged with three counts each, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud (Forbes has reached out to Menendez’ office for comment).
Michael Soliman, an advisor to Menendez, said last October that the three-term senator has been under federal investigation related to the bribery allegations, though Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and told CNN in April that he believed the probe would result in “absolutely nothing.”
The charge is the latest against Menendez, who was also indicted in 2015 in New Jersey for accepting private jet flights, campaign contributions and bribes for official favors, though Menendez was acquitted three years later of several of those charges, while the Department of Justice dismissed the remaining charges following a request from prosecutors.
Surprising Fact
Menendez, whose term in the Senate is set to end in January 2025, allegedly provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government and “improperly” advised a U.S. Department of Agriculture official to help protect a monopoly that had been given to Hana by the Egyptian government in exchange for “thousands of dollars of bribes” and a “low-or-no-show job” for Nadine Menendez, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also allege Menendez interfered with an investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s office into Uribe, who, along with Daibes, provided Menendez with more than $100,000 worth of gold bars, a luxury car and home furnishing.
Further Reading
Sen. Bob Menendez Under Federal Investigation—Again (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/09/22/new-jersey-sen-menendez-indicted-on-bribery-charge/