US Senator Bob Menendez has been accused of “selling the power of his office” by accepting bribes in the form of gold, cash, and a Mercedes Benz to aid New Jersey businessmen and serve as a foreign agent for Egypt, according to a prosecutor’s statement to jurors on Monday as the trial nears its conclusion.
“Robert Menendez, the senior US senator from New Jersey and former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put his power up for sale,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni during his closing argument.
Monteleoni characterized Menendez’s actions as a “clear pattern of corruption.”
“It wasn’t enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington,” Monteleoni asserted. “Robert Menendez wanted all that power and also sought to use it to amass wealth for himself and his wife.”
Evidence Presented in Court
Throughout the trial, jurors were shown gold bars seized by federal agents from Menendez’s New Jersey home in June 2022. FBI agents also discovered more than $480,000 in cash, much of it hidden in envelopes, clothing, closets, and a safe. Additionally, over $70,000 in cash was found in his wife Nadine Arslanian Menendez’s safe deposit box.
Charges and Pleas
Menendez, 70, has pleaded not guilty to 16 criminal charges, including bribery, fraud, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. His wife, Nadine Menendez, will be tried separately in August due to her breast cancer diagnosis.
The charges stem from allegations that Menendez used his official position to benefit the Egyptian and Qatari governments and three New Jersey businessmen—Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, and Jose Uribe—in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold, cash, mortgage payments, and a luxury vehicle.
Previous Indictments
This marks the second time Menendez has faced federal criminal charges during his nearly two-decade tenure in the Senate. A previous trial ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Nadine Menendez, along with Daibes, Hana, and Uribe, has also pleaded not guilty.
Conclusion of the Trial
As the trial approaches its end, the outcome will determine whether Menendez is held accountable for the alleged abuse of his powerful position. The case underscores the ongoing battle against corruption within the highest echelons of government.
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