The US District Attorney’s Office in New York held a press conference on the 22nd, announcing that a federal grand jury had indicted five people, including Congressman Menendez of the ruling Democratic Party, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate, his wife, and three businessmen acquaintances. It was announced that he had been charged with corruption.
According to the indictment, from 2018 to 2022, Congressman Menendez used his position as a lawmaker to provide information he obtained to the Egyptian government and other benefits in return for receiving payments from Egyptian-American businessmen he mediated. He is said to have repeatedly received money and goods.
When prosecutors searched Menendez’s home, they found about $500,000, or about 74 million yen, in cash in an envelope with the businessman’s fingerprints on it, as well as other items he had received from the businessman. It is said that gold bars and other items were found.
In response to the indictment, the top Democratic leader in the Senate, Majority Leader Schumer, announced that Menendez would be removed from his post as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in accordance with party rules.
Congressman Menendez is an influential figure in the administration’s foreign policy, and could be a blow to the ruling Democratic Party as the presidential election approaches next year.
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2023-09-23 02:09:32
