U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife were indicted in New York on federal bribery charges for accepting cash, gold bars, home mortgage payments and more as part of “corrupt relationship” with three businessmen from their home state.
The indictment alleges Menendez “provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the government of Egypt,” and pressured a U.S Department of Agriculture official to protect a business monopoly in Egypt for one of the businessmen.
It also accuses the Democratic senator of using his office and influence to disrupt a criminal probe in New Jersey of a second businessman.
And it alleges that Menendez recommended that President Joe Biden nominate as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey someone whom the senator believed could be influenced by Menendez to disrupt the prosecution of the third businessman.
“This investigation is very much ongoing,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams at a press conference on the indictment of the senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez.
“We are not done.”