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☆ Democrats Want Quick Confirmation of Jack Lew as Israel Ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said America needs a confirmed ambassador to Israel as soon as possible. President Biden's nominee, Jack Lew, a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff during the Obama administration, is set for a confirmation hearing on Wednesday. "I will do everything I can not only to have a hearing but to move him out of committee on the floor of the United States Senate because we do need a confirmed ambassador of Israel," Cardin said Tuesday. He said he wants to "make sure that's a reality as soon as possible." Some Republicans have expressed opposition to Lew and could try to slow walk the nomination.

Persons: Sen, Ben Cardin, Biden's, Jack Lew, Obama, Cardin, Lew Organizations: Foreign Relations, White House, United States Senate Locations: Md, America, Israel

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivers remarks during the AIPAC convention at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday the Senate will seek within days to pass a resolution supporting Israel, approve additional funds for Israel and confirm a new U.S. ambassador to the Jewish State. "That means military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance and humanitarian assistance to care for innocent civilians. Schumer said he thought Senate passage of a strong pro-Israel legislation might encourage the House of Representatives to act, despite its leadership impasse. Schumer called Lew "capable and strong" and urged the committee to approve Lew as soon as possible, so the full Senate can confirm him "in all due haste."

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Tom Brenner, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Israel, Jack Lew, Joe Biden's, Lew, Antony Blinken, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Defense Lloyd Austin, Staff General C.Q, Brown, Patricia Zengerle, Katharine Jackson, Sandra Maler Organizations: Democratic, Washington Convention Center, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic U.S, Israel, Jewish State, Hamas, U.S . Congress, Republican, Foreign Relations, National Intelligence, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, U.S, Ukraine

He had been scheduled to take a tour of CS Wind, the world’s largest facility for wind tower manufacturing. The official, who was not authorized to comment about the president's potential visit, said a final decision to visit Israel hasn't been made. Blinken was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It’s the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Mohammed Shia, Olaf Scholz, Harris, Jeff Zients, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Israel hasn't, idled, Sissi, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Jacob Lew, — Lee, Jon Gambrell, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National, National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, CS, U.S, Union, United, United Arab Emirates, Israeli, ”, “, Israel, Air, Hamas, Israeli Ministry of Defense, United States Senate, Foreign, AP Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iraqi, Pueblo , Colorado, Egypt’s, Cairo, Europe, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, U.S, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks to reporters while on his way to a vote following a Senate Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. Senator Bob Menendez on Thursday brought a new criminal charge against him that he conspired to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. Prosecutors have said that co-defendant Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressed him to sign off on military aid. In return, the businessman put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled. The new indictment said both Hana and Nadine Menendez communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Craig Hudson, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Nadine, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Lawrence Lustberg, Nate Raymond, Kanishka Singh, Susan Heavey, Mark Porter, Lisa Shumaker, Grant McCool Organizations: Democratic, Capitol, REUTERS, Prosecutors, U.S, New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New Jersey, New York, Jersey, Egypt's, Washington, United States, Egypt, Boston

The American people must understand just how shocking and gruesome Hamas’ actions were, Biden told his aides. I think we can change the Middle East,” Biden told a group of Jewish American leaders on Wednesday. “If tomorrow Hezbollah started launching missiles into Israel, that would be seen as a real escalation,” according to a person close to the situation. In his private conversations with Netanyahu, Biden has not urged the Israeli leader to practice restraint in its counterattack against Hamas. “He has always approached Israel with moral clarity and full commitment,” a senior adviser to the president told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, it’s, ”, Netanyahu, –, Biden’s, CNN’s Matthew Chance, I’m, Jake Sullivan, Netanyahu’s, ” Sullivan, Netanyahu “, Alexandria Ocasio, ” Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: CNN, White, Jewish, Israel, National Security Council, Senate Foreign Relations, Defense Department, Biden, Democratic Party, New, New York Democrat Locations: Israel, Europe, Tehran, Gaza, United States, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, “, Alexandria, Cortez, New York

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez, once top Senate foreign-policy chairman, accused of acting as foreign agent
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Federal prosecutors say Sen. Bob Menendez acted as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. They said in a new indictment that Menendez should have registered as a foreign lobbyist. He was the top Senate Democrat for foreign policy for most of the time the allegations stemmed from. In a new superseding indictment, prosecutors added the foreign-agent charge to the litany of counts against Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a New Jersey businessperson. At the time from which the allegations stem, Bob Menendez was the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, —, Democratic Sen, Nadine Menendez, Will Hana, Hana, Prosecutors, Nadine, Trump, David Rivera Organizations: Service, Democratic, Prosecutors, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations, Democrats, New, State Department, Justice Department, US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Foreign, Republican Locations: Egypt, New Jersey, Menendez's, Cairo, Washington, FARA

☆ Congress is in shambles and failing America when it needs it to function most
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

War broke out in the Middle East with one of the US' closest allies, but Congress can't do a thing. Without a House speaker, very little additional aid can be approved to aid Israel or even Ukraine. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe United States Congress is tragically failing when the world — not just the country — needs it to function most. While President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that some aid has already been sent, sending more will likely depend on the cooperation of Congress.

Persons: —, gridlock, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Israel isn't, there's, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, George Santos, Santos, Matt Gaetz, Tommy Tuberville, Justin Sullivan, Sen, Bob Menendez, he's, GOP Sen, Chuck Schumer, Democratic Sen, Dick Durbin, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Biden, Cruz isn't Organizations: Service, United, United States Congress, Democratic Caucus, Hamas, Republican Party, Republicans, Representatives, GOP, Biden, Foreign Relations, Democratic, Senate, Republican, Counterterrorism, Politico, Biden White House Locations: Israel, Ukraine, United States, New York, Minden, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon

☆ Who Is Nadine Arslanian, Bob Menendez's Wife Indicted in a Bribery Scandal?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Michelle Mark | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian arrive at federal court following an indictment on corruption charges. Still, even prior to Menendez and federal indictment, Arslanian brushed up against fame and scandal. Arslanian "liked nice things," Anton told Insider. The longtime friend, who asked not to be identified by name, told Insider that Arslanian was conscious of her looks. AdvertisementAdvertisement"We felt that it was a very one-sided investigation," Koop's sister, Rosemarie Koop-Angelicola, told Insider.

Persons: Nadine Arslanian, Richard Koop, Robert Menendez, Arslanian texted Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez, Brendan McDermid, Menendez's, Arslanian, Menendez, Chris Christie, Doug Anton, Kim DePaola, Kelly, Anton, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mareva Mitsotakis, Chip Somodevilla, Nadine Tabourian, Raffi Arslanian, Sabine, André, Arslanian's, Last, Marco Tacca, Anton's, Koop, —, Narendra Modi, Stefani Reynolds, Bono, — Menendez, Taj, Robert, Nadine, Menendez cradling Arslanian, they've, Koop's, Rosemarie Koop, Angelicola, she's, Wael Hana, Douglas Anton, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Fred Daibes, Bob, Nadine wasn't, Aaron Short Organizations: New Jersey IHOP, Benz, Reuters, Democratic Party, Prosecutors, longtime Garden, Arslanian's, Real Housewives of New, Attorney, Greek, White House, New York University, New York Times, Housewives of, Indian, Getty, Lincoln, Police, Senate Foreign Relations, Strategic, Business Consultants, Strategic International Business Consultants, Hana, Department of Justice Locations: New Jersey, Bogota , New Jersey, Englewood Cliffs, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Beirut, Lebanon, United States, Bergen, Jersey, Cernobbio, Italy, AFP, Bergen County, Union City, Queens, Arslanian's Englewood, Washington, DC, Bogota, Egypt, Arslanian, Egyptian, Englewood

Biden said he and his national security team were working “round the clock" on the crisis, including plotting how to get the Americans home safely. If I told you I wouldn't be able to get them home," Biden said at the start of a White House roundtable with Jewish community leaders. The move is meant to starve resources for Hamas, but aid groups have warned of a humanitarian crisis for the Palestinian people who are also suffering because of the attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Wednesday for Israel, where America's top diplomat is set to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Biden is an old foreign policy hand, having chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his career as a U.S. senator from Delaware.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, beheadings, Netanyahu, Bibi, Antony Blinken, Isaac Herzog, –, Blinken, Benny Gantz Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, ISIS, Israel, National Unity, Foreign Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, U.S, Delaware, Dachau, Germany

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. It was not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or were in hiding. The attack by Hamas and Israel's response have left more than 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.

Persons: ”, Matthew Miller, Joe Biden’s, Obama, Jack Lew, Lew, Tom Nides, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R, Ford, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, Roosevelt, ” Austin, Chuck Schumer, Israel Organizations: WASHINGTON, State Department, White, White House, U.S, Foreign, Sunday, Ford, Air Force, Pentagon Locations: Israel, U.S, Normandy, Norfolk, Virginia, Italy, United States

The White House has been working urgently in the past 24 hours to get a Senate confirmation process in motion for President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to two White House officials. But the White House officials said they hope lawmakers in both parties will agree with the president on the need to quickly confirm Lew amid the war between Israel and Hamas. "Everyone understands the importance behind it," one White House official said. Tom Nides, Biden's former ambassador to Israel, told NBC News in an interview that the Senate needs to confirm his successor "immediately" upon return. One official said Lew is "eager" to get to work, and the White House hopes he is confirmed with bipartisan support.

Persons: Jack Lew, Joe Biden's, Obama, Biden, Lew, Tom Nides, Nides, Sen, Chris Murphy, Israel, Chris Coons, Coons, hasn't, Ted Cruz, Bill Clinton Organizations: International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, IMF, White, Foreign Relations, White House, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry, NBC News, Connecticut, U.S, State, Counterterrorism, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Republicans, Senate, Washington, Management, Israel, Organization, Economic Locations: Europe, Washington , DC, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Two U.S. Members of Congress Safe After Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Two U.S. lawmakers who were in Israel during the Hamas attack have safely left the country, their offices said Sunday. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was in Jerusalem and scheduled to speak at an event in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.), who represents parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, was visiting Israel with his wife and three youngest children for a bar mitzvah when the attacks began.

Persons: Sen, Cory Booker, Dan Goldman Organizations: Senate Foreign Relations, Tuesday Locations: Israel, N.J, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, N.Y, Brooklyn, Manhattan

The Hamas attack left at least 250 dead and 1,500 wounded in Israel. The attack only adds new complications as the Biden administration and Iran are locked in disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program. Biden administration officials have also been working on brokering a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state. Biden administration officials pushed back against the argument. Administration officials roundly rejected this, saying their efforts to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza and elsewhere do not involve money that Hamas can use or divert.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ unconscionable ”, ”, ” Biden, Obama, —, won’t, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Jonathan Schanzer, “, Netanyahu, Schanzer, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Matthew Miller, State Victoria Nuland, Barbara Leaf, Seung Min Kim, Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Hamas, Hezbollah, Biden, European, Middle East, White, Trump White, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Republican, Israel ., Israel . Florida Gov, Department, Foreign Relations, Islamic, State Victoria, Republicans, Administration, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Egypt, Syria, Washington, Israel . Florida, Carolina, U.S, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, New York, Waterloo , Iowa

☆ Criminal trial of US Senator Bob Menendez set for May 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Bob Menendez’s trial on corruption charges will begin in May, a federal judge in New York said on Monday. The Democratic senator for New Jersey has pleaded not guilty and resisted calls for his resignation following his indictment last month on charges of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. The senator’s wife and businessmen Jose Uribe, 56, Fred Daibes, 66, and Wael Hana, 40, have also pleaded not guilty. The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation by federal prosecutors. Menendez, one of two senators representing New Jersey, stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as required under his party’s rules.

Persons: Bob Menendez’s, Sidney Stein, Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Hana Organizations: Democratic, Prosecutors, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, New Jersey, Jersey, U.S, Manhattan

Among other things, prosecutors accused Menendez of ghostwriting a letter for Egyptian officials that sought to influence U.S. policy on military aid. The judge declined similar requests from Nadine Menendez and her co-defendants, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. More than half of Senate Democrats have said that Menendez should resign, including New Jersey Gov. Menendez has said he intends to stay in the Senate, saying he is certain he will ultimately be exonerated. Besides setting a trial date, Judge Sidney Stein gave prosecutors a December deadline to turn over certain evidence to the defense.

Persons: —, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, ghostwriting, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Hana, Phil Murphy, New Jersey Sen, Cory Booker, Donald Trump, Sidney Stein Organizations: U.S, Jersey's, Senate, Senate Foreign Relations, Authorities, Prosecutors, New Jersey Gov, New Locations: Jersey, New Jersey, New York City, Washington, Egypt

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez bribery trial set for May 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A federal judge on Monday scheduled the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife Nadine on bribery and corruption charges to begin May 6, 2024. Menendez, his wife, and the trio of businessmen will stand trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The couple is charged with three counts each: Conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. Menendez insists he is innocent, and has refused calls by more than half of the Democratic Senate caucus that he resign. The indictment alleges that Menendez for years used his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the three business associates.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine, Menendez, Prosecutors Organizations: Senate Democratic Caucus, U.S, Capitol, Bob Menendez of New, Democratic Senate, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Washington, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Egypt, F.B.I, Englewood

Still, many lawmakers acknowledge that winning approval for Ukraine assistance in Congress is growing more difficult as the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds on. Then, on Saturday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy omitted additional Ukraine aid from a measure to keep the government running until Nov. 17. In the Senate, both Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell pledged to move quickly to try and pass the full White House request. “Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America’s security and for democracy around the world.”Leading up to Saturday's vote, Pentagon officials expressed alarm at the prospect of no extra funding for Ukraine. “Every day that goes by that we don’t get the additional money is a day Russia gets closer to being capable of winning this war,” Murphy said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Kevin McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, House . Florida Sen, Rick Scott, ”, Scott, Michael McCord, ” McCord, Mike Rogers, that's, you've, ” Rogers, Gregory Meeks, Zelenskyy, ” Meeks, Donald Trump, Biden, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, ” Murphy, Jim Risch of, ” Risch, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Senate, White, Russia, Republican, Capitol, Ukrainian, ”, House ., Pentagon, Ukraine, House Armed Services Committee, Rep, House Foreign Affairs, FBI, IRS, Justice Department “, Biden, Senate Foreign Relations, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United States, House, House . Florida, U.S, Jim Risch of Idaho

☆ Controversial Egypt aid held by new Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s new chairman is going to block a controversial tranche of military aid for Egypt, he announced Saturday. Sen. Ben Cardin’s last-minute decision on the day of the September 30 deadline followed backlash over the State Department’s recent decision to use a national security waiver to bypass human rights-related restrictions imposed on $235 million in aid. The block comes after the committee’s previous chairman, Sen. Bob Menendez, was indicted on corruption charges over accusations that he accepted bribes to help Egypt obtain military aid. Critics, including Cardin, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken should not have released the $235 million balance on the $320 million tranche of military aid. The White House referred questions to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Persons: Sen, Ben Cardin’s, Bob Menendez, ” Cardin, Cardin, ”, Antony Blinken, Cardin’s, Abdel Fattah el Organizations: CNN, Relations, State, New, New Jersey Democrat, Maryland Democrat, Biden, State Department Locations: Egypt, New Jersey, Maryland, Taiwan, Lebanon

☆ Senior Senate Democrat Threatens to Block Military Aid to Egypt on Human Rights Grounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Matt Spetalnick and Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Senator Ben Cardin issued the threat in a statement, saying "it is imperative that we continue to hold the government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for their human rights violations." Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Ben Cardin, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Egypt Locations: Egypt, Washington, Israel

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) speaks at a committee meeting after assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee vowed on Saturday to block military aid and arms sales to Egypt if it does not take concrete steps to improve human rights in the country. Much of the aid has been withheld in recent years over concerns about human rights abuses under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. But President Joe Biden's administration announced this month it had decided to waive human rights restrictions on $235 million of the aid, citing security benefits to the U.S. It is currently withholding $85 million of the aid, a fraction of the $1.3 billion a year allocated for Egypt.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Craig Hudson, Gregory Meeks, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Abdel Fattah al, Joe Biden's, Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Senate Foreign, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign, Democratic U.S, Representatives Foreign, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic, Washington, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Egypt, Washington, Israel

☆ Republicans sure don't sound like they're about to block Democrats from filling Dianne Feinstein's Judiciary Committee seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dianne Feinstein's seat on the Judiciary committee is now empty in the wake of her death. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the wake of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death, questions are swirling over how the California Democrat's now-empty seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee will be filled. In order to change the membership of any Senate committee, the chamber has to pass a resolution to make that change official. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer can do so via a simple voice vote if no Republicans object to the change. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio said it was up to Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and that he would "probably support" whatever decision they made.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein's, —, Sen, Joe Biden's, Josh Hawley, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson, Johnson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Mike Braun, JD Vance, Ohio, Todd Young, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Paul, Ben Cardin, Bob Menendez, Feinstein, Mitch McConnell, Sheldon Whitehouse, Whitehouse, Hawley, I'm, She's Organizations: Service, Republicans, Democratic, GOP, Republican, Indiana, Committee, Senate Foreign Relations, Bob Menendez of New, Judiciary, Twitter, Democrats Locations: California, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Rhode

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's new chairman on Thursday said he would look at Turkey's $20 billion Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) F-16 fighter jet deal and that more issues than Sweden's ascension to NATO would affect the decision on lifting his predecessor's longstanding hold. Cardin said he had discussed Sweden's NATO accession with Turkish officials at a NATO ambassador's meeting on Wednesday. Leaders of the U.S. Senate and House foreign affairs panels review every major foreign arms sale. "Menendez being out of the picture is an advantage," Erdogan was quoted as telling reporters by Turkish media. The top Republican on the Senate panel, Senator Jim Risch, has put a hold on arms sales to Hungary over the issue.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Ben Cardin, Cardin, Bob Menendez, Tayyip Erdogan's, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Erdogan, Sweden's, Jim Risch, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Relations, Lockheed, Turkish, NATO, U.S . Senate, Kurdistan Workers Party, Republican, Thomson Locations: NATO, Sweden, Greece, Ankara, Stockholm, Turkey, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Budapest

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey,delivers remarks, after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023. Senator Bob Menendez is set to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessman, as calls for his resignation from his fellow Democrats escalated. Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez, 56, and businessmen Jose Uribe, 56, and Fred Daibes, 66, are set to appear in Manhattan federal court around 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT). David Schertler, a lawyer for Nadine Menendez, said she intends to plead not guilty and "vigorously defend" against the allegations. Lawyers for Bob Menendez, Uribe and Daibes did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, David Schertler, Uribe, Daibes, Cory Booker, Phil Murphy, Hana, Luc Cohen, Andrew Goudsward, Scott Malone, Timothy Gardner 私 Organizations: Democrat, REUTERS, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate, U.S, Democratic Senators, Democratic New, Prosecutors Locations: New Jersey, Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Manhattan, Democratic New Jersey, Washington

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Accountability for Russian Atrocities in Ukraine", on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023. It is the second time Cardin, a senior senator known for human rights advocacy, replaces fellow Democrat Menendez in committee leadership. Cardin also stepped in from April 2015 to February 2018 after Menendez faced federal corruption charges that were later dropped. Less hawkish than Menendez, Cardin has focused on human rights throughout his career, notably by authoring the Magnitsky Act, named for a lawyer who exposed corruption in Russia before dying in prison. Passed in 2012 and expanded globally in 2016, the act allowed the U.S. government to sanction individuals involved in human rights violations, not just governments.

Persons: Ben Cardin, Julia Nikhinson, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Cardin, Barack Obama's, Joe Biden's, Patricia Zengerle, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Foreign, Russian Atrocities, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, Communist, Obama's, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington , U.S, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Egypt

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez to be arraigned as resignation calls grow louder
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Dareh Gregorian | Jonathan Dienst | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks during a news conference at Hudson County Community College's North Hudson Campus in Union City, New Jersey, on September 25, 2023. Menendez, his wife, Nadine, and two co-defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in the morning. Since the indictment was unsealed Friday, Menendez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and he is expected to plead not guilty. But he faces a deluge of calls to resign from his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and at the local level in New Jersey. The federal indictment is the second Menendez has faced since he became a senator in 2006.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Sen, Menendez, Nadine, — Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes —, Hana, Uribe, Daibes, Damian Williams Organizations: Hudson, Hudson County Community, Hudson Campus, Democratic, Southern, of, Foreign, Capitol, Office Locations: Hudson County, Hudson, Union City , New Jersey, New York, New Jersey, couple's, Jersey, U.S, of New York, Englewood, Cuba, Florida

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