{"id":2245489,"date":"2024-05-15T19:46:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T23:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prosecutors-accuse-bob-menendez-of-putting-power-up-for-sale-in-bribery-trial\/"},"modified":"2024-05-15T19:49:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T23:49:41","slug":"prosecutors-accuse-bob-menendez-of-putting-power-up-for-sale-in-bribery-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prosecutors-accuse-bob-menendez-of-putting-power-up-for-sale-in-bribery-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Menendez accused of selling power in bribery trial"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fprosecutors-accuse-bob-menendez-of-putting-power-up-for-sale-in-bribery-trial%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2245489&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Federal prosecutors accused Senator Bob\u2062 Menendez\u200c of New Jersey of abusing his power by engaging in corrupt activities such as weapon procurement, aiding Egypt, and exchanging favors for bribes and gifts. The prosecution described a\u2063 complex scheme alleging betrayal \u200cof public trust. Menendez&#8217;s wife and associates were also implicated, with the defense emphasizing Menendez&#8217;s dedication to public service. The trial involves serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-courts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Federal prosecutors\">Federal prosecutors<\/a> on Wednesday accused <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bob-menendez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"U.S.\u00a0Sen. Bob Menendez \">Sen. Bob Menendez <\/a>(D-NJ) of putting his power \u201cup for sale\u201d by procuring weapons and aid for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/egypt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Egypt\">Egypt<\/a>, securing\u00a0a Qatari investment for a New Jersey businessman, and making criminal charges disappear for another in exchange for cash,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-congressional-candidate-proposes-legislative-ban-on-public-retirement-funds-of-investments-in-china\/\" title=\"California Congressional Candidate Proposes Legislative Ban on Public Retirement Funds of Investments in China\">gold bars<\/a>, and a Mercedes Benz. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou scratch my back and I\u2019ll scratch yours,\u201d\u00a0U.S. prosecutor Laura Pomerantz said during opening arguments in the senator\u2019s high-profile bribery trial.\u00a0She also accused Menendez of putting \u201cgreed first.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) leaves Manhattan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal court<\/a> after the second day of jury selection in his trial, Tuesday, May, 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo\/Stefan Jeremiah)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pomerantz laid out the government\u2019s case against the three-term senator, describing a complex yearslong scheme that she claimed led to Menendez betraying the public and his oath of office. <\/p>\n<p>The government alleged that Menendez, who was chairman of the influential and powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, used his position to help his wife\u2019s consulting company. They claimed he used her as a go-between to carry out \u201cfavors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Menendez\u00a0is being tried alongside Wael Hana, who allegedly capitalized on his relationship with the senator not only to make himself rich but also to steer and aid weapons to Egypt. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Wael Hana leaves the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-antifa-ring-in-the-new-year-by-hurling-molotovs-at-federal-courthouse-destroying-small-businesses-video\/\" title=\"Portland Antifa Ring in the New Year by Hurling Molotovs at Federal Courthouse, Destroying Small Businesses (VIDEO)\">federal courthouse<\/a> in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer who allegedly gave Menendez gold, cash, and furniture in exchange for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bob-menendez-corruption-trial-everything-you-need-to-know\/\" title=\"Bob Menendez Corruption Trial: Key Highlights\">unrelated federal bank charges<\/a> against him to disappear, is also being\u00a0tried. <\/p>\n<p>Hana and Daibes have pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>FILE \u2013 Fred Daibes, one of three businessmen named as co-defendants with Sen. Bob Menendez, arrives at federal court, Sept. 27, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Menendez\u2019s wife of four years, Nadine Menendez, has also been charged. Her trial date has been set for July 8 due to an unspecified illness.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paulhastings.com\/professionals\/aviweitzman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Defense attorney Avi Weitzman\">Defense attorney Avi Weitzman<\/a> countered the prosecution\u2019s characterization of Bob Menendez, calling the New Jersey lawmaker an \u201cAmerican patriot\u201d who has been a \u201clifelong public servant.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>He also said the defense would show Bob Menendez was just \u201cdoing his job, and he was doing it right.\u201d Weitzman slammed prosecutors and claimed their case centered on \u201cspeculation and guesswork.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>However, it became apparent pretty quickly that his defense strategy would include shifting much of the blame to Nadine Menendez. <\/p>\n<p>Weitzman, in his opening statement, painted Bob Menendez as a lovestruck man who was duped by a femme fatale who had her own hidden agenda.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe evidence will show that Nadine was hiding her financial challenges from Bob,\u201d he said. \u201cShe kept him in the dark about what she was asking others to give her.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Nadine Menendez had \u201cfriendships\u201d with different men, Weitzman said, adding that the married couple of less than four years largely led separate lives and weren\u2019t even on the same cellphone plan.  <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Nadine Menendez, wife of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), leaves Manhattan federal court, Thursday, March. 21, 2024. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Weitzman also attempted to shoot down speculation about the infamous gold bars found in the Menendez\u2019s home during a police search last year. <\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors alleged Menendez knew their worth and where they came from after the senator\u2019s repeated Google searches for the price of gold. Weitzman said the searches were done in good faith and were unrelated to bribes.<\/p>\n<p>He also asked\u00a0the\u00a012 jurors and\u00a0six alternates who had been seated Wednesday morning, \u201cIs it really surprising that Bob might not know that those gold bars\u201d were in her closet? <\/p>\n<p>Weitzman further told jurors that Menendez\u2019s decision to help Hana and Daibes amounted to nothing more than \u201cconstituent\u00a0services.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The trial is expected to last seven weeks. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER \">CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is a list of high-profile politicians\u00a0who could be called to the stand, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Judge Sidney H. Stein said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Other potential witnesses included\u00a0former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal prosecutors alleged that Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey abused his power by engaging in corrupt activities, including weapon procurement and aiding Egypt, securing Qatari investments, and dismissing criminal charges in exchange for monetary bribes and lavish gifts. This &#8220;you scratch my back, I&#8217;ll scratch yours&#8221; mentality has raised serious legal concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2245490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24135786354921.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2245489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24135786354921.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2245489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245489\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2245490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2245489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2245489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2245489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}