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Embattled Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey gave an impassioned response on the Senate flooring Tuesday pushing again in opposition to the latest superseding indictment that alleges he was concerned with federal bribes in change for varied presents and money to profit Qatar.
“Sensationalized allegations are now creating a rising call for my resignation, despite my innocence and before a single piece of evidence has even been introduced in a court of law,” Menendez stated on the Senate flooring Tuesday.
Menendez repeatedly asserted his innocence and claimed “there is no evidence” of the presents and funds he allegedly acquired as a suspected overseas agent.
“In fact, there will be at trial, a full explanation of what is the truth about those issues, a truth that proves I am entirely innocent of the charges,” he stated.
Menendez accused federal prosecutors of exaggerating the allegations to tarnish his picture within the media and prejudice potential jurors and stated it will have a “chilling effect” on overseas engagement involvement amongst different members of Congress.
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Sen. Bob Menendez and his spouse Nadine Menendez depart a Manhattan courtroom after they have been arraigned on federal bribery costs in New York on Sept. 27, 2023. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency by way of Getty Images)
“I understand how the government’s accusations may be in the most sensational and purposely damning way possible,” Menendez continued. “It’s misuse of the grand jury system to bring superseding indictments, even though it had all the information they allege from the beginning, can be a source of concern and content by some of my colleagues, the political establishment, and most importantly, the people of New Jersey… I am suffering greatly as a result of what they have done after 50 years of public service – this is not how I wanted to celebrate my golden jubilee.”
DEMOCRAT SEN BOB MENENDEZ FACING INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES
According to the latest superseding indictment unsealed final week, Menendez is now accused of accepting bribes and presents in change for serving to to profit Qatar as a part of a corruption scheme from 2021 by 2023, one 12 months longer than initially thought, the Justice Department stated.
Menendez is already dealing with federal costs for allegedly appearing as a overseas agent and accepting tons of of hundreds of {dollars} of bribes to profit the Egyptian authorities by his energy and affect as a senator.
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Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey arrives on the federal courthouse in New York, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
Menendez, alongside along with his spouse Nadine and three different New Jersey businessmen – Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes – have been first charged within the federal bribery scheme on Sept. 23. All have pleaded not responsible.
The Democrat senator allegedly made a number of public statements supporting the Qatari authorities after which offered them to Daibes so he might share them with the Qatari investor and a Qatari authorities official. The investor negotiated a million-dollar funding actual property mission with Daibes.
Among the brand new allegations is that Menendez and hs spouse enriched themselves with money, gold bars and a luxurious automobile. The couple acquired the presents in change for Menendez utilizing his affect to induce the Qatari Investment Co. to make investments with Daibes, prosecutors say.
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FBI and IRS prison investigators allege that Menendez and his spouse accepted a number of gold bars and different presents from Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former financial institution chairman accused of banking crimes. Menendez allegedly labored to assist appoint a prosecutor who could be sympathetic to Daibes, in accordance to the indictment.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and David Spunt contributed to this report.
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