- Bob Menendez faces foreign agent charges.
- Alleged conspiracy, bribery, and more.
- Calls for resignation and expulsion.
Egyptian Senator Robert Menendez, already under investigation for corruption, now faces charges of acting as Egypt’s foreign agent, allegedly providing sensitive US government information to Egypt. This comes after Menendez and his spouse faced bribery charges. Menendez denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors have accused Menendez and his wife, Nadine, of conspiring to increase US aid and military sales to Egypt in exchange for bribes, including cash, gold, mortgage payments, and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey industrialists. The scheme allegedly used the senator’s influence to achieve its objectives.
In addition to discovering 13 bars of gold bullion estimated to be worth $155,000 (£127,000), investigators reportedly found $480,000 (£393,000) in currency concealed throughout the senator’s New Jersey residence during a search last year, according to prosecutors.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors in New York filed a new indictment, charging that Menendez “violated his official duty in ways that benefited the Egyptian government by using his influence and power.”
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Menendez, who was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (from which he has since resigned), is alleged to have persuaded fellow senators to release a hold on $300 million (£246 million) in aid to Egypt and to have provided the Egyptian government with classified US government information.
The plot spanned January 2018 to June 2022.
The indictment contains new images of Menendez and Nadine dining at a Washington, DC, eatery with Egyptian officials. Prosecutors allege that Nadine inquired, “What else can the love of my life do for you?”
Congressmen cannot represent foreign principals who must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, according to the indictment.
Last month, the two individuals were indicted on three separate criminal counts each: conspiracy to engage in bribery, conspiracy to defraud honest services, and conspiracy to extort under the guise of official authority.
The 69-year-old lawmaker issued a statement on Thursday in defense against the new allegations.
“Piling new charges upon new charges does not make the allegations true,” he stated. “I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country — the United States of America.”
Over thirty Senate Democrats, including his colleague, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, have demanded his resignation.
Fresh claims prompted Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman to call for Menendez’s expulsion from the Senate on Thursday.
“The United States Senate cannot have an alleged foreign agent,” stated Fetterman in a statement. “This is not a close call.”
