According to Fox News, in 2016, he was charged with federal bribery when a friend, a Florida eye doctor, received benefits in return for donations. In 2018, the Justice Department dropped those previous charges, but now there’s a new probe in the works.
In October, federal investigators began an investigation with no end clearly in sight. While the New Jersey Democrat continues to deny the allegations pending against him, he plans to create a legal defense fund to mitigate the tens of thousands of dollars in fees. According to NBC, the case has already cost Menendez around $200,000 in campaign funds.
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Several federal organizations are involved in the probe investigating a New Jersey food producer who gave Menendez’s wife, Nadine Arslanian, lavish gifts while receiving an exclusive contract. The contract is from the Egyptian government and would allow the food producer to certify Halal food exports worldwide.
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The probe is to determine whether the Senator misused his influential position to influence the deal. At the time, he was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which controls U.S. aid to Egypt of approximately $2 billion.
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A spokeswoman told NBC, “Senator Menendez is confident that this official inquiry will be successfully closed, but as it is still unresolved, he will be opening a separate legal defense fund so as not to drain any further campaign funds.”
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While the investigation of the U.S. attorney’s office for New York’s Southern District has been ongoing for months, the Senator’s office has confirmed his plans to create the legal defense fund to NBC News. Depending on the outcome of the suspected Quid pro quo investigation, Menendez and his wife may have more to worry about than expensive gifts.