Veteran US Democratic Party congressman was prosecuted for accepting bribes of money and gold

Washington [US], September 23: Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was indicted on charges of accepting bribes.
The New York Times reported on September 22 that US senator Robert Menendez and his wife have just been indicted for bribery violations related to their relationship with three New Jersey businessmen.
Mr. Menendez (69 years old), head of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was prosecuted and sentenced to 6 years in prison, after a lengthy investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan (New York state). Nearly 6 years ago, he was tried in another corruption case, but in the end the court did not pronounce a verdict.
The latest indictment announced by the federal court in Manhattan also prosecuted his wife, Nadine Menendez (56 years old), with a 3-year prison sentence.
In addition, famous businessman Fred Daibes in the real estate sector in New Jersey is also accused of involvement in the case.
A longtime friend of Ms. Menendez's, businessman Wael Hana, who founded a company in New Jersey that certified food as free of banned substances as required by Islamic law, was also indicted. The third businessman prosecuted is Mr. Jose Uribe, who used to work as an insurance agent in California.
Prosecutors accused Mr. Menendez and his wife of accepting bribes in return for using his power and influence to protect and enrich businessmen, as well as benefit the Egyptian government, according to Reuters.
Specifically, they said the bribes included money, gold, payments for houses, luxury cars and many other valuable items.
Mr. Menendez is up for re-election next year and an investigation could further complicate Democrats' efforts to expand their slim 51-49 majority in the 100-member Senate.
Prosecutors proposed confiscating Mr. Menendez's assets, including a house in New Jersey, a Mercedez-Benz car and about $566,000 in cash, gold bars and bank deposits.
According to the indictment, Egyptian-born businessman Hana arranged meetings and dinners between Mr. Menendez and Egyptian officials in 2018, when they pressured Mr. Menendez on the issue of military aid from America. In return, businessman Hana put Nadine Menendez's name on his company's payroll.
Egypt was then one of the largest recipients of military aid from the US, but in 2017, the US State Department withheld $195 million and canceled $65.7 million until the country improved its population. sovereignty and human rights.
According to prosecutors, at the 2018 meeting, Mr. Menendez shared with businessman Hana non-public information about the aid situation. The businessman then texted Egyptian officials that "the ban on small arms and ammunition for Egypt has been lifted."
Mr. Menendez was previously investigated for allegations of being provided with personal flights by others and a number of related allegations of accepting bribes. The 2017 trial was deadlocked and in 2018 prosecutors dropped the case. Mr. Menendez has always denied the allegations in that case.
Then in 2018, this congressman was re-elected for a third term in the Senate, where he first became a senator in 2006.
In the latest case, prosecutor Damian Williams in the Southern District of New York said the investigation is continuing and urged those with relevant information to quickly report it.
Commenting on the above information, Mr. Menendez said that these were all baseless accusations and that he was the victim of a deliberate smear campaign. His wife also denied all accusations against her and said she would strongly refute in court.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper