One sentence summary – New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, are facing federal felony charges related to bribery and corruption, stemming from their alleged involvement in arranging meetings where business executives and foreign officials sought favors from Menendez; as the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the charges will impact Menendez’s political career and the future of the Senate race in New Jersey.
At a glance
- New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, are facing federal felony charges related to bribery and corruption.
- Menendez and Arslanian allegedly arranged meetings where business executives and foreign officials sought favors from Menendez.
- Arslanian worked with businessman Wael Hana to introduce Menendez to Egyptian officials and attended multiple meetings with them.
- Menendez sought sensitive information from the U.S. State Department and shared it with Arslanian, who forwarded it to Egyptian officials in exchange for promises to help Egypt benefit from U.S. military sales.
- Menendez and Arslanian face three criminal counts each, including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
The details
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, are facing federal felony charges.
The charges are related to bribery and corruption.
These charges stem from their alleged involvement in arranging meetings where business executives and foreign officials sought favors from Menendez.
Menendez and Arslanian married after months of COVID-19 turmoil in a socially distanced ceremony.
They reportedly met at an IHOP pancake restaurant and began dating in 2018.
Arslanian worked with businessman Wael Hana to introduce Menendez to Egyptian officials.
She attended multiple meetings with Menendez and Egyptian officials.
Menendez sought sensitive information from the U.S. State Department regarding personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
He then texted the information to Arslanian, who forwarded it to Egyptian officials.
In return for Menendez’s promise to help Egypt benefit from U.S. military sales, Hana rewarded Arslanian with a no-show job at his company.
Arslanian also received $23,000 to resolve foreclosure proceedings on her home.
During a search of the apartment shared by Menendez and Arslanian, officials discovered over $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash.
Arslanian’s safe deposit box contained an additional $70,000.
Arslanian is accused of setting up a company called Strategic International Business Consultants with Menendez’s help to receive bribery payments.
She allegedly stated, “Every time I’m a middle person for a deal, I am asking to get paid, and this is my consulting company.”
Menendez and Arslanian face three criminal counts each, including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
Menendez had previously faced bribery charges, but a 2017 trial resulted in a jury deadlock.
The federal government now seeks the forfeiture of assets, including the couple’s home, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, cash, gold bars, and funds from a bank account.
The businessmen involved in the scheme were also charged.
Prosecutors allege that one of the businessmen arranged meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials, pressuring Menendez on the status of US military aid.
Menendez is further accused of improperly pressuring a senior official at the Department of Agriculture to protect a monopoly awarded to one of the businessmen.
The indictment also claims Menendez used his power to disrupt a criminal investigation and prosecution related to one of the businessmen’s associates.
Egypt was a major recipient of US military aid, but funds were previously withheld due to concerns about human rights and democracy.
Menendez allegedly shared non-public information about the status of the aid with one of the businessmen, who then informed an Egyptian official.
In response to these charges, Rep.
Andy Kim of New Jersey has announced his candidacy for the state’s Democratic primary for Senate against Menendez.
Several Democrats, including Sen.
John Fetterman and members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, have called for Menendez to step down.
However, Menendez has stated that he will not resign.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Menendez would have to step down as chairman per Senate Democratic caucus rules.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has demanded Menendez’s immediate resignation.
Sen.
Cory Booker and Rep.
Rob Menendez have not called for him to step down.
Menendez has claimed that there is an “active smear campaign” against him.
His wife denies any criminal conduct.
The case against Menendez and Arslanian involves serious allegations of bribery, corruption, and abuse of power.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the charges will impact Menendez’s political career and the future of the Senate race in New Jersey.
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| reuters.com |
|---|
| – New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is facing federal felony charges alongside his wife, Nadine Arslanian, for arranging and attending meetings where business executives and foreign officials sought to curry favor from Menendez. – Menendez married Arslanian in a socially distanced ceremony after months of COVID-19 turmoil. |
| – Arslanian reportedly met Menendez at an IHOP pancake restaurant and they began dating in 2018. |
| – Arslanian worked with businessman Wael Hana to introduce Menendez to Egyptian officials. |
| – Arslanian attended multiple meetings with Menendez and Egyptian officials. – Menendez sought sensitive information from the U.S. State Department regarding personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and texted it to Arslanian, who then forwarded it to Egyptian officials. – |
| In return for Menendez’s promise to help Egypt benefit from U.S. military sales, Hana rewarded Arslanian with a no-show job at his company and $23,000 to get her home out of foreclosure proceedings. |
| – Officials searched the apartment Menendez and Arslanian shared and found over $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash. |
| Arslanian’s safe deposit box contained another $70,000. – Arslanian is accused of setting up a company called Strategic International Business Consultants with Menendez’s help to receive bribery payments. |
| – Arslanian, a registered Republican, is quoted as saying, “Every time I’m a middle person for a deal, I am asking to get paid and this is my consulting company.” |
| theguardian.com |
|---|
| – US Senator Robert Menendez and his wife have been charged with bribery offenses. |
| – They are accused of accepting gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for protecting three businessmen and influencing the government of Egypt. – FBI special agents discovered a significant amount of gold and approximately $500,000 in cash during a search of the Menendez couple’s home. – |
| The FBI also found the Mercedes-Benz car that one of the businessmen had provided. – Menendez and his wife face three criminal counts each, including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. – Menendez had previously been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for official favors, but a 2017 trial ended in a jury deadlock. – |
| The federal government seeks the forfeiture of assets including the Menendezes’ home, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, cash, gold bars, and funds from a bank account. – |
| The businessmen involved in the scheme were also charged. – Prosecutors allege that one of the businessmen arranged meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials, during which the officials pressed Menendez on the status of US military aid. – Menendez is accused of improperly pressuring a senior official at the Department of Agriculture to protect a monopoly awarded to one of the businessmen. – |
| The indictment also alleges that Menendez used his power and influence to disrupt a criminal investigation and prosecution related to one of the businessmen’s associates. – Egypt was a major recipient of US military aid, but funds were withheld due to concerns about human rights and democracy. – Menendez allegedly shared non-public information about the status of the aid with one of the businessmen, who then informed an Egyptian official. |
| independent.co.uk |
|---|
| – Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey has announced his candidacy for the state’s Democratic primary for Senate against Sen. Robert Menendez. – Kim’s decision to run comes after Menendez and his wife were indicted on corruption charges. – Several Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman and members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, have called for Menendez to step down. – Menendez and his wife are accused of using his position to aid the government of Egypt and pressure federal prosecutors to drop a case against a friend. |
| – |
| This is the second indictment on bribery charges for Menendez, and the second time he has had to relinquish his position as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel. – Menendez has stated that he will not step down, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Menendez would have to step down as chairman per Senate Democratic caucus rules. – New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has demanded Menendez’s immediate resignation, while Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Rob Menendez have not called for him to step down. |
| – Authorities found gold bars and cash totaling over $100,000 in Menendez’s home during a search last year. |
| – Menendez is accused of interfering in criminal investigations and trying to benefit Egypt despite U.S. government concerns over the country’s human rights record. |
| – Menendez has claimed that there is an “active smear campaign” against him, while his wife denies any criminal conduct. |
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