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Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine face bribery accusations in New York court

Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine face charges in New York.
Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine face charges in New York.

Photo: STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP / Getty Images

The opinion

By: The opinion Published Sep 22, 2023, 10:22 am EDT

The Southern District Court of New York accuses Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez (New Jersey), chairman of the International Relations Committee, and his wife Nadine, of bribery to favor businessmen.

According to the indictment, first revealed by Politico, the couple accepted “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in exchange for favoring businessmen Wael “Will” Hana, José Uribe and Fred Daibe.

“From at least 2018 through and including around 2022, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, also known as ‘Nadine Arslanian,’ the defendant, entered into a compulsive relationship with three New Jersey associates and businessmen: Waerl Hana, Ida. ‘Will Hana’, José Uribe and Fred Daibes,” the indictment says.

Senator Menendez and his wife “agreed to and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using Menendez’s power and influence as a senator to protect and enrich Hana, Uribe and Daibes,” the lawsuit says.

It is added that these actions would also be “for the benefit of the Arab Republic of Egypt.”

“These bribes included cash, gold, home mortgage payments, compensation for little or no work, a luxury vehicle and other things of value,” the charges state.

Prosecutors will provide details of the indictment this morning.