https://sputnikglobe.com/20230922/menendez-temporarily-resigns-as-us-foreign-relations-panel-chair-amid-bribery-probe-1113594436.html
Menendez 'Temporarily' Resigns as US Foreign Relations Panel Chair Amid Bribery Probe
Menendez 'Temporarily' Resigns as US Foreign Relations Panel Chair Amid Bribery Probe
Sputnik International
US Senator Bob Menendez is temporarily resigning as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following an indictment for crimes including bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion.
2023-09-22T21:23+0000
2023-09-22T21:23+0000
2023-09-22T21:20+0000
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"Bob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey. He has a right to due process and a fair trial," Schumer said in a statement.Current Democratic Conference rules dictate that any lawmaker who serves as chair or ranking member of a congressional body must "immediately" step down from their post if charged with a felony. Additionally, the senior-most Democratic member of the affected panel would take up corresponding responsibilities, which in regards to the Menendez case would be Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD). Cardin previously indicated in May that he intended to retire at the end of his term in 2025.To date, at least two House Democrats have called on the New Jersey senator is fully resign from Congress, with Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) being one of the first to urge for the ouster.Menendez has struck back at the allegations, saying that "for years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave.""I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all of the facts are presented and my fellow New Jerseyans will see this for what it is."Earlier Friday, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging Menendez and his wife with bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right for allegedly exchanging his influence as a senator to enrich himself and co-defendants and benefit the Egyptian government.The Friday indictment specifically focused on a luxury vehicle, gold bars and an apartment that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, are alleged to have received as part of a "corrupt relationship" with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fed Daides.As part of the arrangement, Menendez is alleged to have passed on sensitive US information to "secretly" aid the Egyptian government, as well as ghost-write a letter for Egypt seeking to convince his fellow senators to release $300 million in aid to the nation, among other findings.The "corrupt relationship" is said to have gone on from at least 2018 to to about 2022.
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us senator bob menendez, temporary resignation of bob menendez, bribery, conspiracy to commit extoration, senate majority leader chuck schumer, us senate foreign relations committee
us senator bob menendez, temporary resignation of bob menendez, bribery, conspiracy to commit extoration, senate majority leader chuck schumer, us senate foreign relations committee
Menendez 'Temporarily' Resigns as US Foreign Relations Panel Chair Amid Bribery Probe
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Senator Bob Menendez is temporarily resigning as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following an indictment for crimes including bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday.
"Bob Menendez has been a dedicated public servant and is always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey. He has a right to due process and a fair trial," Schumer said in a statement.
"Senator Menendez has rightfully decided to step down temporarily from his position as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee until this matter has been resolved."
Current Democratic Conference rules dictate that any lawmaker who serves as chair or ranking member of a congressional body must "immediately" step down from their post if charged with a felony.
Additionally, the senior-most Democratic member of the affected panel would take up corresponding responsibilities, which in regards to the Menendez case would be Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD). Cardin previously indicated in May that he intended to retire at the end of his term in 2025.
To date, at least two House Democrats have called on the New Jersey senator is fully resign from Congress, with Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) being one of the first to urge for the ouster.
Menendez has struck back at the allegations, saying that "for years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave."
“Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a US senator and serve with honor and distinction. Even worse, they see me as an obstacle in the way of their broader political goals," he said.
"I am confident that this matter will be successfully resolved once all of the facts are presented and my fellow New Jerseyans will see this for what it is."
22 September 2023, 13:56 GMT
Earlier Friday, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging Menendez and his wife with bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right for allegedly exchanging his influence as a senator to enrich himself and co-defendants and benefit the Egyptian government.
The Friday indictment specifically focused on a luxury vehicle, gold bars and an apartment that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, are alleged to have received as part of a "corrupt relationship" with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fed Daides.
As part of the arrangement, Menendez is alleged to have passed on sensitive US information to "secretly" aid the Egyptian government, as well as ghost-write a letter for Egypt seeking to convince his fellow senators to release $300 million in aid to the nation, among other findings.
The "corrupt relationship" is said to have gone on from at least 2018 to to about 2022.
The indictment marks the second such incident in which Menendez was hit with corruption charges. His initial brush came in 2015 and ended in a mistrial in 2018 after the presiding jury was unable to reach a verdict on all counts.
The 2015 indictment was tied to his relationship with a Florida eye doctor who would give gifts to the senator in exchange for using the power of Menendez's office.
