Menendez steps down as Foreign Relations chair after indictment; Dems call for him to resign

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Federal authorities on Friday unsealed an indictment charging New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat and chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife, Nadine, with bribery offenses.

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Justin Tasolides

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Sen Menendez stated that his accusers felt threatened by his success as a first-generation Latin American from humble beginnings who has served with honor and distinction in the United States Senate. He said they see it as an obstacle to their political goals and that he has been falsely accused before but that the people of New Jersey have always seen through the lies and have recognized his innocence.

Sen. Menendez denied the allegations against him in a statement, saying that he was the victim of a smear campaign and that powerful people were trying to destroy him politically.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the investigation was ongoing and they were still seeking information. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

Governor Murphy said in a statement that the allegations against Menendez are "deeply disturbing" and "implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system." He also said that the allegations are "so serious" that they compromise Menendez's ability to represent the people of New Jersey.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams declared that special agents with the FBI executed search warrants on the residence and safe deposit box of Sen. Menendez and Nadine Menendez in New Jersey and discovered approximately $500,000 of cash stuffed into envelopes and closets. Some of the cash was stuffed in the senator's jacket pockets.

Senator Menendez allegedly abused his power by pressuring a senior official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect a lucrative monopoly that the Egyptian government had awarded to Wael Hana. Hana then used the profits from this monopoly to fund bribes.

Bob Menendez is up for reelection next year, corruption charges against him could complicate his party's efforts to maintain their narrow majority in Congress. Menendez is already facing at least one Democratic primary challenger and three Republican challengers.

Charges against Menendez and his wife Nadine, are conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.

Menendez is accused of trying to obstruct a criminal investigation and prosecution in New Jersey involving an associate and a relative of Jose Uribe, and of trying to install a U.S. attorney who would protect Fred Daibes, who was facing federal prosecution.

Prosecutors said that a search of Sen. Menendez New Jersey home found more than $480,000 in cash and approximately $150,000 in gold bars

Senator Bob Menendez has been called to resign by a growing number of Democrats, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Representatives Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill, and Representative Dean Phillips. Former US Attorney General Eric Holder also called for Menendez to step down, saying that it would be best for the nation if he did so.

New Jersey lawmaker Bob Menendez accused prosecutors of overstepping their bounds, misrepresenting the normal work of a Congressional office, and attacking his wife for her past friendships.

Senator Bob Menendez has refused to resign despite calls from several Democrats to do so. He said in a statement that he believes in innocence until proven guilty and that he intends to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey. He also accused some people of rushing to judge him because he is Latino.

Menendez is accused to have secretly helped the government of Egypt, providing sensitive, nonpublic U.S. government information to Egyptian officials

On September 22, 2023, federal authorities unsealed an indictment charging New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat and chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife, Nadine, with bribery.

U.S Attorney Damian Williams said that some of the envelopes of cash found in Menendez house contained Fred Daibes' DNA. Williams added that agents also discovered a lot of gold provided by Daibes and Wael Hana, and a Mercedes Benz given by Jose Uribe.

The indictment alleges that Senator Bob Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for the senator using his power and influence to help three New Jersey businessmen and the government of Egypt.

On 09/22/2023, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that his office had indicted New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, his wife, Nadine, and three New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daides. The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in a corrupt relationship between 2018 and 2022.

Sen. Menendez had previously stepped down from his position as the ranking Democrat on the committee in 2015 when he was first charged, but resumed the role after he was acquitted.

Ten years ago Bob Menendez was accused of taking lavish gifts from a Florida doctor. The case ended in a hung jury and the charges were dropped, but Menendez was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee. He proclaimed his innocence throughout the process and was reelected to the Senate.

Senate rules require that any member charged with a felony step down from their leadership position. Bob Menendez stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after he was charged with corruption.

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2023

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Spectrum News NY1

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New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez indicted on bribery charges

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https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2023/09/22/bob-menendez-new-jersey-bribery-offenses-justice-department

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Justin Tasolides

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New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez indicted on bribery charges

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Prosecutors said that a search of Sen. Menendez New Jersey home found more than $480,000 in cash and approximately $150,000 in gold bars

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