Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and his wife Nadine Arslanian pose for a photo on Capitol Hill on Dec. 20, 2022. The couple has been indicted on charges of bribery.
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, representing New Jersey, and his wife Nadine Menendez have been indicted on federal corruption charges following an extensive investigation. The indictment, comprising 39 pages, alleges that Menendez accepted luxury items and substantial sums of money as bribes in exchange for engaging in corrupt activities, which included divulging sensitive information to the Egyptian government.
Menendez, aged 69, serves as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He and his wife are facing three counts each in the indictment. Additionally, real estate developer Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, and Joseph Uribe have been charged with two counts each in connection with the case. All five individuals are expected to make their initial court appearance in Manhattan.
In response to the charges, Menendez vehemently denied them, labeling the indictment as a politically motivated smear campaign. He has temporarily stepped down from his role as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee pending the resolution of the matter.
The indictment alleges that the Menendezes maintained a corrupt relationship with New Jersey associates and businessmen, receiving substantial bribes that included cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, and luxury items. The investigation also uncovered non-public information shared with Egypt and efforts to disrupt criminal investigations. The case is ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges.
This indictment marks the second time that Menendez has faced corruption charges during his tenure as a senator, making him a rare case in U.S. Senate history.
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