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The federal government has initiated a wide-ranging corruption case against New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, his wife, and two businessmen from New Jersey, alleging brazen engagement in bribery. The trial, taking place in federal court in Manhattan, is set to unfold over the next six to seven weeks.
Federal prosecutors are expected to argue that Mr. Menendez leveraged his political influence and power to provide favors for the businessmen and aid officials in Egypt in exchange for lavish bribes. This trial follows the unveiling of three separate indictments, totaling 18 criminal charges, against Mr. Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez, and businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana.
Each individual is accused of participating in a years-long bribery scheme aimed at leveraging Mr. Menendez's political influence as a senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to secure deals with officials in Qatar and Egypt.
As the trial commences, here are the key players to be aware of:
- **Bob Menendez**: A three-term Democratic US Senator from New Jersey, formerly chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is accused of accepting lavish bribes in exchange for utilizing his political influence for favors. Mr. Menendez faces 16 charges, including bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction of justice, among others. He has pleaded not guilty.
- **Nadine Menendez**: Mr. Menendez's wife, accused of accepting bribes to use her husband’s political influence for favors. She faces 15 charges, including bribery and obstruction of justice. Her role is central to the indictment and potentially to Mr. Menendez's defense. She has pleaded not guilty, and her trial will be separate from her husband's.
- **Fred Daibes**: A New Jersey real estate developer accused of giving Mr. Menendez gold and cash in exchange for assistance with a criminal investigation and securing investors for a development project. Mr. Daibes is charged with seven crimes, including bribery and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. He has pleaded not guilty.
- **Wael Hana**: An Egyptian-born American businessman accused of giving Mr. Menendez gold bars, cash, and more to secure a lucrative deal for his halal meat-certifying company with Egyptian officials. Mr. Hana faces six charges, including bribery and conspiring for a public official to act as a foreign agent. He has pleaded not guilty.
- **Judge Stein**: A senior judge for the Southern District of New York court presiding over the corruption case against Mr. Menendez and his co-defendants. He has been described as a fair judge who maintains a calm demeanor.
- **Mr. Williams**: An assistant attorney for the Southern District of New York who brought the charges against Mr. Menendez and his co-defendants. He became the first African-American US attorney for SDNY when President Joe Biden named him in 2021.
This case unfolds against a backdrop of allegations involving bribery, obstruction of justice, and misuse of political influence, with each defendant maintaining their innocence.