Federal prosecutors revealed on Friday that Democrat U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, along with his wife, have been indicted on bribery charges.
Breaking Digest reported that Menendez, who has faced numerous corruption investigations, and his wife were being investigated for allegedly accepting gold bars in exchange for favors.
Fox News reported:
Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is being charged with bribery offenses in a federal indictment out of the Southern District of New York to be unsealed Friday, prosecutors announced.
“A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen,” the U.S. attorney’s office posted on X.
NBC News 4 reported Monday that the FBI and IRS criminal investigators are attempting to determine if Menendez or his wife had taken up to $400,000 worth of gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman, or his associates in a swap for Menendez reaching out to the Justice Department to aid the “admitted felon” accused of banking crimes.
An indictment filed against Menendez and his wife Nadine outlines how the couple received hundreds of thousands of dollars from three businessmen in exchange for influencing the State Department to support their business interests in Egypt. The bribes included cash, gold, home mortgage payments, “compensation for a low-or-no-show job,” a luxury vehicle, and “other things of value.”
From the Menendez indictment:
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 22, 2023
"Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt." pic.twitter.com/iOAciR0pHl
During a search warrant executed at Senator Menendez’s residence, authorities discovered $100,000 worth of gold and $480,000 in concealed cash hidden within clothing, closets, and a safe, as reported by the AP.
per Menendez indictment: "Over $480,000 in cash—much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe—was discovered in the home"
— Sam Stein (@samstein) September 22, 2023
Menendez has a history of corruption, dating back to 2017.
Earlier this year, Menendez faced a corruption probe after he and his wife were accused of accepting inappropriate gifts from a New Jersey business connected to Egypt.
In 2017, Senator Menendez also faced criminal corruption charges but the jurors in that trial were unable to come to a verdict.
Menendez is up for re-election in 2024.
According to the Senate Historical Office, Sen. Menendez is the first sitting senator to have been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations.
According to the New York Post, “The Senate Historical Office says Menendez appears to be the first sitting senator in U.S. history to have been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations. Menendez faces reelection next year in a bid to extend his three-decade career in Washington, and as Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.”
A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen. pic.twitter.com/CLTXnU0mAm
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) September 22, 2023
Senator Menendez may potentially face another investigation by the IRS, as they indicated their interest in probing the New Jersey Democrat for potential tax improprieties back in May.
