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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has raised over $300,000 since being indicted last year, campaign data shows.
In September 2023, Menendez and his wife were indicted by federal prosecutors and accused of accepting bribes, including gold, cash, a luxury vehicle and payments toward a home mortgage from business owners Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes in exchange for advancing their interests, as well as those of the Egyptian government while Menendez was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
A Newsweek review of Federal Election Commission data found that from September 22, 2023, to March 31, 2024, Menendez has raised $318,768.
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The context:
In an unsealed indictment on September 22, 2023, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York alleged that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, "engaged in a corrupt relationship with three New Jersey associates and business owners," identified as Will Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.
The indictment accused Menendez of allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to use his power as a senator to protect the three business owners "and to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt."
"Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value," the indictment said.
Menendez has denied any wrongdoing in the case and his trial in New York continued this week.
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What we know:
Shortly after the unsealed indictment was announced, Menendez issued a statement saying "For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists."
"I have been falsely accused before because I refused to back down to the powers that be and the people of New Jersey were able to see through the smoke and mirrors and recognize I was innocent," Menendez said. "I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all of the facts are presented and my fellow New Jerseyans will see this for what it is."
During his trial earlier this week, Menendez's lawyer attorney Avi Weitzman disputed the allegations against his client saying "They want you to be blinded by the gold and the cash," according to CNN.
The attorney also argued that Menendez "was acting lawfully" in his role as a senator, CNN reported.
In a video posted to social media in March, Menendez further asserted that he was innocent and noted that he will not run for reelection as a Democrat but teased a possible campaign as an independent.
"I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election," he said.
Views:
During the trial this week, Lara Pomerantz, a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York said, "Robert Menendez was a United States senator on the take," CNN reported.
"Motivated by greed, focused on how much money he could put in his own pocket and his wife's pocket. That is why we are here today. That is what this trial is all about," Pomerantz told the jury, according to CNN.
What's next:
Menendez's trial is expected to continue over the next few weeks. The trial for his wife has yet to start and she has also pleaded not guilty.
Several of his fellow senators have called for his resignation, including fellow Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who said "I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving."
Newsweek reached out to Menendez's office via email for comment.
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