U.S. Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, along with his wife, has been indicted on charges associated with allegedly accepting bribes in the form of cash, luxury automobiles, and gold bars.
The indictment alleges that these bribes were accepted to perpetrate various corrupt acts, including leveraging the senator’s influence in foreign affairs to assist the government of Egypt, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
The prosecutors revealed that a raid on the senator’s residence uncovered $100,000 in gold bars and an additional $480,000 in concealed cash.
The 69-year-old Democrat’s indictment comes almost six years following a previous criminal case, which concluded with a jury deadlock.
This new set of charges is not connected to the previous ones, where Menendez was accused of receiving extravagant gifts to influence government officials to act in favor of a doctor based in Florida.
If he chooses to run, Menendez faces re-election next year, potentially marking over thirty years in Washington, with the Democrats currently holding a slight majority in the Senate.
Unrelated Criminal Allegations
According to the Senate Historical Office, Menendez seems to be the first sitting senator in the history of the United States to be indicted on two separate and unrelated criminal allegations.
Menendez, maintaining his innocence, faced indictment in 2015 for allegedly performing favors for Dr. Salomon Melgen, a close friend, in exchange for gifts and campaign donations.
The senator’s lawyers have argued that contributions and gifts from Melgen were expressions of their enduring friendship and not bribes.
Legal and Political Implications
With this indictment, Menendez is required to resign as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, adhering to the rules of the Senate Democratic caucus, which mandate that any member charged with a felony must relinquish any leadership positions, per AP.
Menendez previously stepped down from his top position on the panel in 2015 after the first indictment, but he resumed his role in 2018 after being acquitted of the charges.
The initial indictment accused Menendez of intervening to settle a Medicare billing dispute in favor of Melgen, arranging visas for Melgen’s girlfriends, and aiding in maintaining a contract Melgen had to supply port-screening equipment to the Dominican Republic.
The prosecution abandoned the case after the jury reached a deadlock in November 2017 on several counts, including bribery, fraud, and conspiracy, and subsequently, some counts were dismissed by a judge.
The Senate Ethics Committee, however, reprimanded Menendez, concluding that he had accepted gifts improperly, failed to report them, and used his influence to further Melgen’s personal interests.
Regardless, Menendez managed to secure his Senate seat again, defeating a well-funded opponent in a midterm election, breaking the Republican stronghold in Washington.
Melgen, convicted of health care fraud in 2017, had his prison sentence commuted by former President Donald Trump.
Continuous Investigation
This indictment is the result of a prolonged investigation which, among other aspects, scrutinized the transactions of a New Jersey businessman, a friend of Menendez’s wife.
The businessman obtained exclusive authorization from the Egyptian government to certify imported meat in Egypt as compliant with Islamic dietary laws.
The investigation also explored the interactions between the Menendez family and a developer based in New Jersey.
Responses from the lawyers for Menendez’s wife, Menendez’s Senate spokesperson, and his political consultant are yet to be received as they have not replied to the messages seeking comment.
