Gold Bars For Government Documents: Feds Say Menendez Aided Egypt

NEW JERSEY —Federal officials accused Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, his wife, and three New Jersey businessmen of a bribery scheme that enriched the government of Egypt, and said Menendez provided sensitive information to foreign officials.

Officials said they found cash stuffed into some of Menendez's jackets in a closet at his home, and found "over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of gold bars in the home."

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York unsealed a three-count indictment Friday against Menendez, his wife Nadine, and the businessmen: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes.

In the indictment, officials allege the senator and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, in exchange for using Menendez's power and influence in the Senate to benefit those three men and also the country of Egypt.

The alleged bribes include cash, gold, a Mercedes-Benz, and payments toward a home mortgage.

"Among other actions, Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt," the indictment states.

In a statement, Menendez said he is the target of an "active smear campaign" and claims he and his wife have been falsely accused.

“Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction," he said. "Even worse, they see me as an obstacle in the way of their broader political goals."

Federal agents executed search warrants at the Menendezes' home in June 2022 and also searched their safety deposit box. Agents found more than $480,000 in cash, "much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe" according to the indictment.

Some of the money was inside jackets with Menendez's name on them, the indictment said.

Agents also found "over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of gold bars in the home," and an additional $70,000 in Nadine Menendez's safe deposit box.

The 69-year-old senator, who serves as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is up for re-election next year.

Menendez said the prosecutors " have misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office."

"On top of that, not content with making false claims against me, they have attacked my wife for the longstanding friendships she had before she and I even met," he said in a statement.

“They wrote these charges as they wanted; the facts are not as presented," he continued. "Prosecutors did that the last time and look what a trial demonstrates. People should remember that before accepting the prosecutor’s version."

The Senate Democratic Caucus rules will force Menendez to step aside as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, as CNN reported.

The New Jersey Republican state committee called for Menendez to immediately resign.

"While we acknowledge the Senator’s presumption of innocence and right to a fair trial, it is clear that his decade-long legal woes have become an embarrassing distraction. For the good of the people of this state, who deserve full and devoted representation, we call on Senator Robert Menendez to resign," said NJGOP spokeswoman Alexandra Wilkes.

Read the full indictment below, or click here to view in a new window.

Mistrial in first case against Menendez

This latest investigation is separate but broadly similar to a federal trial that took place in 2017, which accused Menendez of bribery and corruption.

Prosecutors had previously alleged that Menendez conspired with Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, using the power of his Senate office to influence the outcome of ongoing contractual and Medicare billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars to Melgen.

In addition, prosecutors accused Menendez of supporting the visa applications of several of Melgen's girlfriends.

In exchange, the senator allegedly received almost $1 million worth of lavish gifts and campaign contributions, prosecutors said.

Menendez pleaded not guilty, and a mistrial was declared after a deadlocked jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after eight days of deliberations. Those charges against Menendez were dismissed in 2018.