Top Democrat Charged With Bribery

Federal prosecutors announced on Friday that U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat representing New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are facing charges related to alleged bribery offenses involving three New Jersey businessmen. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan has accused them of accepting bribes, including cash, gold, mortgage payments, job compensation, a luxury vehicle, and other valuables, in exchange for leveraging Senator Menendez’s influence to benefit the businessmen and the government of Egypt.

According to Newsmax, Senator Menendez, aged 69, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are each facing three criminal counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. As of now, there has been no response from Senator Menendez’s office regarding these charges.

Notably, Senator Menendez serves as the chairman of the influential U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Previously, he faced charges in New Jersey for accepting private flights, campaign contributions, and other favors in exchange for official actions, but a 2017 trial ended in a hung jury.

Prosecutors are currently pursuing the forfeiture of assets, including Senator Menendez’s New Jersey residence, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, and approximately $566,000 in cash, gold bars, and funds from a bank account. Importantly, these new charges are distinct from the earlier allegations that accused Senator Menendez of accepting lavish gifts to influence government officials on behalf of a Florida doctor.

According to the Senate Historical Office, Senator Menendez appears to be the first sitting senator in U.S. history to be indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations. This development comes as Senator Menendez faces reelection next year in an effort to extend his three-decade career in Washington, particularly as Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.

The recent charges stem from a lengthy investigation that examined various aspects, including the dealings of a New Jersey businessman closely connected to Nadine Menendez, who secured exclusive authorization from the Egyptian government to certify meat imports meeting Islamic dietary requirements. Investigators also probed the Menendez family’s interactions with a New Jersey developer.

Senator Menendez’s political career seemed in jeopardy in 2015 when he faced his first indictment regarding favors for Dr. Salomon Melgen. He was accused of influencing government officials in favor of Melgen’s Medicare billing dispute, securing visas for the doctor’s girlfriends, and protecting a contract involving port-screening equipment for the Dominican Republic. Despite the charges, Senator Menendez consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that campaign contributions and gifts from Melgen were reflections of their longstanding friendship, not bribes.

The case against Senator Menendez was eventually dropped in November 2017 after a jury deadlock, though some counts were dismissed by a judge. The Senate Ethics Committee later rebuked Senator Menendez for improperly accepting gifts, failing to disclose them, and using his influence to advance Melgen’s personal interests.

Nevertheless, New Jersey voters returned Senator Menendez to the Senate in the midterm elections, breaking the Republican hold on power in Washington. Dr. Salomon Melgen was convicted of healthcare fraud in 2017, but his prison sentence was later commuted by former President Donald Trump.

Senator Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants, has held public office continuously since 1986 when he was elected mayor of Union City, New Jersey. He served as a state legislator and spent 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2006, he was appointed to the Senate seat vacated by then-Governor Jon Corzine.

While other senators, such as Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Richard Kenney, have faced multiple indictments while in office, their charges were related to overlapping allegations, according to the Senate Historical Office. Neither Senator Kenney nor Senator Hutchinson were convicted and both completed their terms. In total, 13 senators have been indicted throughout U.S. history, with six convictions and two overturned convictions, according to Senate Historical Office records. Senator Menendez first disclosed that he was the subject of a new federal investigation in October of the previous year.

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