Title: New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez Indicted for Alleged Bribery Scheme
Washington, D.C. – United States Senator Robert Menendez, a prominent Democrat from New Jersey, has been indicted on charges of accepting substantial bribes, including cash and gold bars, as revealed by the Justice Department. The indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, received these illicit gifts from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for leveraging his political influence to benefit both the individuals involved and the government of Egypt.
This development follows a protracted investigation by the Justice Department, which has been ongoing for several years. Prosecutors contend that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, accepted bribes that included cash, gold, contributions towards their mortgage, and a luxury vehicle. The businessmen identified in the indictment are Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes.
The indictment asserts that these bribes were provided to Senator Menendez in return for his use of his senatorial power and influence to protect the interests of the three businessmen and further the objectives of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Federal agents executed search warrants at Senator Menendez’s residence, discovering evidence of the bribery agreements. This evidence reportedly included over $480,000 in cash, much of which was concealed in envelopes and hidden within clothing, closets, and a safe.
Furthermore, agents disclosed the presence of a luxury vehicle, funded by Mr. Uribe, parked within the senator’s garage. The indictment also reported the discovery of $100,000 worth of gold bars inside the Menendez home, with photographs included as evidence.
The BBC has reached out to Senator Menendez’s office for comment, but as of now, there has been no response.
Notably, this is not the first time Senator Menendez has faced bribery charges. In 2015, he was indicted in New Jersey over allegations of accepting bribes, including luxury vacations, from a wealthy Florida eye doctor. However, that case ended in a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
This is a developing story, and further details will be provided as they emerge. Please check back for updates.
JUST IN: New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has been indicted on corruption-related charges for the second time in 10 years. His wife was also charged. https://t.co/LwUEbp5qXD
— CNN (@CNN) September 22, 2023