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Prosecutors unveiled further particulars relating to the flowery bribery scheme involving Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey in a court submitting on Monday.
Allegations embody a $150,000 bribe, which allegedly featured a diamond engagement ring for his spouse, Nadine Menendez, a COVID-19 lab in New Jersey, and a “007” cellphone linked to Nadine.
According to prosecutors, Nadine’s engagement ring was a part of a $150,000 bribe from a New Jersey man who requested Menendez to get him off the hook for felony fees after he was charged with insurance coverage fraud within the state.
Part of that chunk of money was additionally used to buy a Mercedes-Benz convertible for Nadine to switch her car across the similar time police information present she struck and killed a pedestrian in December 2018.
Sen. Bob Menendez and his spouse, Nadine, depart a Manhattan court after they have been arraigned on federal bribery fees on Sept. 27, 2023. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency through Getty Images)
The submitting additionally alleges that in 2020 and 2021, Menendez solicited New Jersey mayors to authorize using a particular COVID-19 testing laboratory that on the time was paying Nadine. Prosecutors argued the extra proof present “substantial evidence that Menendez did in fact know about the corrupt quid pro quo.”
Menendez additionally allegedly usually made calls to Nadine’s “007” cellphone, “an apparent reference to the fictional character James Bond,” prosecutors wrote.
Menendez, together with 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.
DEMOCRAT SEN MENENDEZ’S WIFE HIT, KILLED PEDESTRIAN WHILE DRIVING IN 2018: REPORTS
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his spouse, Nadine, arrive on the federal courthouse in New York on Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
According to the most recent superseding indictment unsealed final month, Menendez is accused of accepting bribes and presents in trade for serving to to learn Qatar as a part of a corruption scheme from 2021 by 2023, one yr longer than initially thought, the Justice Department stated.
Menendez is already going through federal fees for allegedly appearing as a overseas agent and accepting a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} of bribes to learn the Egyptian authorities by his energy and affect as a senator.
The Democrat senator allegedly made a number of public statements supporting the Qatari authorities after which offered them to Daibes in order that he might share them with the Qatari investor and a Qatari authorities official. The investor negotiated a million-dollar funding actual property undertaking with Daibes.
Among the allegations is that Menendez and his spouse enriched themselves with money, gold bars and different luxurious objects. The couple obtained the presents in trade for Menendez utilizing his affect to induce the Qatari Investment Co. to take a position with Daibes, prosecutors say.
DEMOCRAT SEN BOB MENENDEZ FACING INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his spouse, Nadine, arrive on the federal courthouse in New York on Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Menendez’s workplace for remark. Menendez has repeatedly asserted his innocence and stated “there is no evidence” of the presents and funds he allegedly obtained as a suspected overseas agent.
The defendants are scheduled to seem collectively for trial in May.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and David Spunt contributed to this report.
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