A Democratic supercommittee accepted 1000’s of {dollars} from New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s political motion committee on the identical day federal investigators unveiled bribery expenses to the general public, Fox Information Digital reviewed the recordsdata.
On the morning of September 22, federal investigators unveiled expenses in opposition to Menendez, who chaired the highly effective Senate Overseas Relations Committee, and his spouse, Nadine Menendez. The costs included accusations that he benefited from the Egyptian authorities and engaged in a corrupt scheme alongside Farid Daibes, a New Jersey actual property developer, Wael Hanna, who runs a halal meat certification firm within the state, and businessman Jose Uribe.
On the identical day, Menendez’s New Millennium Political Motion Committee despatched a $15,000 contribution to the Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee’s recount account, filings present. The DSCC is the first group that works to elect and maintain Democrats within the higher chamber of Congress.
Menendez’s contributions turned some extent of competition after he was indicted, however the embattled Democrat made the transfers earlier than the announcement. His September 22 contribution to the DSCC is the primary identified donation to any committee made on the identical day or after the fees in opposition to him had been revealed.
5 explosive revelations from the federal indictment of DEM SEN BOB MENENDEZ
DSCC obtained a $15,000 contribution from Senator Bob Menendez’s political motion committee on the identical day federal investigators revealed the bribery expenses to the general public. (AP Photograph/Seth Wing)
DSCC doesn’t seem to have returned the funds as of the tip of September, the final time lined in the newest filings. The committee had beforehand obtained $30,000 from Menendez lately, however has remained silent about these contributions. They didn’t reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for touch upon the September donation.
The indictment led to a wave of Democrats calling for his resignation from the Senate, together with DSCC Chairman Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan. Politico reported that Peters didn’t say how he would strategy Menendez’s candidacy subsequent 12 months.
It additionally led to different politicians asserting they might hand over cash Menendez despatched to their committees, together with Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman and Montana Senator Jon Tester. Some introduced that they might return the donations, whereas others mentioned they might donate them to charity.
A search of Federal Election Fee filings confirmed that three Democrats — Fetterman, Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman — despatched refunds of contributions to a political motion committee headed by Menendez in late September.
Many Democrats stay silent about Menendez’s donations whereas others are dumping his cash after corruption accusations
Federal investigators unveiled bribery expenses in opposition to Senator Bob Menendez on September 22. (Getty Photos/Ministry of Justice)
Nonetheless, whereas some had been fast to distance themselves from Menendez’s cash, others remained uncommitted or remained silent. For instance, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s workplace mentioned that “till a ruling is made, this is a matter between the folks of New Jersey and Sen. Bob Menendez.”
In the meantime, Menendez has maintained his innocence and believes he will probably be totally exonerated and can stay in Congress.
Federal investigators accused him of utilizing his energy and affect whereas serving within the US Senate to interact in a scheme that in the end benefited the Egyptian authorities. The indictment mentioned the MP and his spouse accepted tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in bribes “to hunt to guard and enrich” Daibes, Hanaa and Uribe.
A number of Democratic politicians introduced they might return Senator Bob Menendez’s contributions. (Al Drago/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)
The indictment mentioned the bribes included money, gold bullion, mortgage funds, compensation for not displaying up at features, a luxurious automobile and “different gadgets of worth.”
Menendez denied any wrongdoing and mentioned that forces “behind the scenes” had been working to silence him and dig his “political grave.” He added that his conduct within the indictment was throughout the powers of his workplace.
“Since this investigation was leaked nearly a 12 months in the past, there was an energetic smear marketing campaign from nameless sources and insinuations to create an environment of wrongdoing the place none exists,” he wrote shortly after the indictment was filed.
Menendez and his spouse have pleaded not responsible to those expenses.
Fox Information Digital’s Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report.