Cuban-American Senator Bob Menéndez has been accused along with his wife Nadine Menéndez of federal charges for acts of bribery, which would link him to three businessmen and a confessed criminal.
According to revelations made by prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, the New Jersey senator received monetary compensation and even gold bars and a luxury vehicle in exchange for helping Fred Daibes, a real estate developer and former president of a bank that He was accused of banking crimes.
This accusation, made public during the morning of this Friday, September 22, indicates that Senator Menéndez would also have received other benefits such as mortgage payments, compensation for work and other items of great value.
Now, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation are trying to find out if Daibes also gave gold bars to the senator’s wife, which would be worth $400,000, in exchange. that the politician contacted the Department of Justice to help him.
Experts point out that, if it is proven that the official received these “gifts” in exchange for favors, he could face serious legal consequences.
Menéndez revealed that his family received the gold bars in 2020, but only did so after the investigation against him began. A search of the couple’s residence ended with the discovery of many of these items, including tens of thousands of dollars in cash and a nearly half-million-dollar car.
The lawyer representing Nadine Menéndez stated that the senator denies having acted improperly, so he will defend himself against the accusations. For her part, Menéndez stated that the accusations were unfounded, and that she trusted the justice system to do its job.
“To my followers, friends and the community at large, I ask you to remember the other times when prosecutors were wrong and to reserve your opinion. “I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all the facts are presented and my colleagues in New Jersey will see this for what it is,” the Cuban-American said in an official statement.
It is important to remember that this is not the first time that Bob Menéndez faces bribery charges, since, in 2017, he was accused of accepting gifts from a Florida doctor in exchange for favors. On that occasion, his trial ended in a hung jury, and in 2018, the Government decided not to put him on trial again after some of the charges against him were dismissed.
