Democrat Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has been indicted on federal bribery charges by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, was also charged.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) issued a short press release on social media that said:
“A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen.”
NBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos said the charges are likely related to the Federal Extortion Act.
“For purposes of the Federal Extortion Act, it makes no difference if the senator took an official act so long as he accepted the money and there was knowledge the money was in exchange for that official influence, even if he never carried out what he had promised he would do,” Cevallos said.
Menendez is accused of taking huge bribes in return for political favors.
The top Democrat reportedly took payments in the form of gold bars.
The move to take payments in gold was likely done to conceal the transactions.
A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen. pic.twitter.com/CLTXnU0mAm
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) September 22, 2023
According to Fox News:
“Federal investigators are probing whether Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez or his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars from a felon in a trade for help, according to a report.
“NBC News 4 reported Monday that the FBI and IRS criminal investigators are attempting to determine if Menendez or his wife had taken up to $400,000 worth of gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman, or his associates in a swap for Menendez reaching out to the Justice Department to aid the ‘admitted felon’ accused of banking crimes.
“Daibes starred down federal bank fraud charges at the time of the alleged handoff that could have netted him up to a decade in prison, the report says.
“Witnesses are currently testifying before a Manhattan federal grand jury weighing whether to bring corruption charges against Menendez, the publication reported.”
READ MORE: John Cusack: ‘Obama Corporatist Democrats’ Have ‘Sold Out the Working Class for Decades’
