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☆ Israel ordered Chevron to shut down a major natural gas field, which could send prices spiking further just before winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Israel told Chevron to shut down a major natural gas field, and it's threatening to further spike prices of the fuel. The world's natural gas market has already been rocked by the war in Ukraine and threats of a strike in Australia. Some Israeli gas from Tamar is exported to Egypt, which processes the fuel into LNG that's exported to the EU. AdvertisementAdvertisementBrace for bad news ahead of winter: Natural gas prices could spike as energy giant Chevron halted operations at a major Israeli gas field following orders from authorities. Dutch TTF natural gas futures closed 12.5% higher at 49.455 a megawatt-hour on Tuesday.

Persons: Israel, —, Tamar, Israel isn't, Chevron, It's, Gergely Molnar Organizations: Chevron, EU, Service, Energy, Bloomberg, International Energy Agency, P Global Locations: Ukraine, Australia, Tamar, Egypt, Israel, Houston, Europe

☆ U.S. Estimates Up to 600 Americans in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An estimated 500 to 600 U.S. citizens live in the Gaza Strip, and some are looking for safe passage out, including over the border into Egypt, a senior administration official said. “We’re talking intensively with the government of Egypt, the government of Israel how we might arrange that," the official said. "We have to carefully work with the two governments, and that’s part of what these discussions are about.” Egypt has closed the Rafah border crossing, and an Egyptian official said the government is expecting a large number of Palestinians to attempt to cross the border soon, whether or not the crossing point is reopened.

Persons: “ Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Rafah

RUSSIAN DEATH TOLL IN HAMAS ATTACKS RISES TO 4MOSCOW — Russia’s embassy in Israel said the number of Russian citizens killed in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has risen to four. Previously, two Russian citizens were believed to have been killed and four were missing, according to Anatoly Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel. 2 RUSSIAN CITIZENS WERE KILLED IN HAMAS ATTACKS IN ISRAELMOSCOW — Russia’s ambassador to Israel said that two Russian citizens have been killed in of the latest Israel-Palestinian war. Viktorov said that four other Russian citizens remain missing. He said the embassy has no information confirming Hamas’ claim that several Russian citizens were among the hostages it has taken.

Persons: Israel pummeled, Elon Musk, Musk, Marina Ryazanova, Anatoly Viktorov, Abdel Fattah el, JERUSALEM —, Cross, Fabrizio Carboni, we’ve, ” Carboni, “, Volker Türk, Türk, ”, ” PUTIN, Vladimir Putin, Mohammed Al, Sudani, Putin, regrettably hasn’t, ” Putin, Leo, Khan Younis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, INDIA'S MODI, Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Modi, Modi, ISRAEL MOSCOW —, Israel, Anatoly Viktorov didn’t, hasn’t, Viktorov, MACRON, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Macron, Muqtada al, National Security Iyad, Bazm, Dmitry Peskov, Mahmoud Abbas, Peskov, it’s, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Tarik Jazarevic, HAVE Organizations: ‘, Twitter, Tass, International Committee, ICRC, Associated Press, HUMAN RIGHTS, The United Nations, Palestinian, Tuesday, Iraqi, MSF, Shifa Hospital, Nasser Hospital, ISRAEL BERLIN, German Foreign Ministry, Indian, Israel’s, Israel, ISRAEL MOSCOW, Hamas, Ministry of Interior, National Security, Kremlin, WHO, The United, World Health Organization, United Nations, UNRWA, PARIS — France’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.N, ISRAEL, MOSCOW, Russian, Egypt, Palestinian, Geneva, GAZA, U.S, GAZA CAIRO, Gaza City, Khan, Shalom, GERMANY, Israeli, Germany, DELHI, India, FRANCE, MACRON HAMBURG, Iran, Hamburg, France, IRAQ, GAZA BAGHDAD, Sadr, Najaf, Iraq, RAFAH, Rafah, RUSSIA, Moscow, GAZA GENEVA, The United Nations, UN, BEIRUT

☆ Opinion: The 9/11 attack wasn’t an intelligence failure. The Hamas attack may be
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hamas’s attacks are also being ascribed to an intelligence failure, just as 9/11 was. But this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the 9/11 attacks, which were not so much an intelligence failure as a policy failure. Intelligence distributed to officials in the George W. Bush administration included warnings entitled, “Bin Ladin Planning High Profile Attacks,” “Bin Ladin Attacks May Be Imminent,” and “Planning for Bin Ladin Attacks Continues, Despite Delay.” (“Bin Ladin” was the spelling used by the US government at the time.) Certainly, the Hamas attacks in Israel were a surprise, just as 9/11 was, but it is premature to label it an intelligence failure. Right now, we have no idea if there were signals amid the “noise” coming into Israeli intelligence about a likely Hamas attack.

Persons: Peter Bergen, ”, Osama bin Laden, George W, Bush, “, Shin Bet, can’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Roberta Wohlstetter, Bruce Riedel, couldn’t, Netanyahu, Richard Hecht, wasn’t Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, CIA, Intelligence, Twitter, Facebook, Israeli Defense Forces Locations: New America, Israel, Texas, United States, Egypt, Syria, Gaza, Pearl Harbor

☆ An Egyptian intelligence official said Israel's government downplayed threats from Gaza and was repeatedly warned of 'something big'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Egyptian intelligence official said the Israeli government was warned about "something big" before the Hamas attacks. "We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon," the official told the AP. Yet Israeli officials downplayed the threat from Gaza and instead focused on the occupied West Bank, the anonymous Egyptian intelligence official claimed, the news outlet reported on Monday. But they underestimated such warnings," the Egyptian official told the AP. The Egyptian official said that Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, told Israel repeatedly that "something big" was being planned.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Israel, Israel —, Yaakov Amidror, Netanyahu, Amidror Organizations: AP, Service, Hamas, Associated Press, West Bank, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Egypt

☆ Israel-Hamas war: Fact-checking online misinformation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Rachael Kennedy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Misinformation has spread online following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel from Gaza and Israel’s response with air strikes, as the two sides continued to battle. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsMISCAPTIONED PARACHUTE GLIDERSWhen Hamas launched the Oct. 7 surprise attack, militants backed by rocket fire flew into Israel on paragliders. However, Biden has not authorized $8 billion in military aid for Israel, as some people online have falsely claimed. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsThe video of first appeared online at least four days before Oct. 7. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsThe video, titled “Lost girl,” includes audio of a man saying in Arabic, “"Who are your parents?

Persons: “, ”, Joe Biden, Israel “, Biden, Bruno Mars, ‘, ’, Rachael Kennedy, Stephanie Burnett, Toby Chopra Organizations: Reuters, Hamas, Egyptian Military Academy, Rights, Israel, Tel, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, paragliders, Cairo, Ukraine, Reim, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, London

☆ Hamas assault on Israel shows surprise still possible in AI era: Peter Apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

The failure of those systems to deliver advanced warning of Saturday's Hamas attack, however, represents a failure of intelligence likely to be studied and discussed for years. “There will have been warning signs,” one former Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. In concealing their attack, Hamas will have been helped by conditions of Gaza Strip, where Hamas seized power in 2007 and some 2.3 million people are hemmed in behind a 51-km border. Israel may still fear the Hamas assault from Gaza is a precursor to that. Since the Hamas attack, Russia has reasserted its support for an independent Palestinian state and called for a ceasefire while Israeli officials have criticised China directly for failing to condemn Hamas.

Persons: Robert Bauer, Eyal Zamir, Jacob Dallal, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, –, Israel, Assad, David Barnea, Sergey Lavrov, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Hamas, NATO, Israeli Defence Ministry, United, United Arab Emirates, Islamic, U.S, Russian, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Ukraine, Washington, Taiwan, Iranian, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, ” Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Iran, Tehran, Israel’s, Syria, Islamic State, Russia, China, Turkish, Kurdish, Moscow, Beijing

☆ Egypt's cratering economy drives many to risky migrant route
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Mariam Rizk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The surge in numbers leaving Egypt in recent years coincides with Egypt's worsening economy. The pandemic hit Egypt's vital tourist industry and the Ukraine war made investors more risk averse, driving them away from Egyptian markets. MINIBUS TO LIBYAThe Egyptian authorities have largely stopped migrant boat departures from Egypt's north coast since 2016. More migrant boats now leave from eastern Libya, close to Egypt, than from the west in the divided nation. 'COUNTRIES IN CRISIS'President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other Egyptian officials say Egypt is doing what it can to halt the migrant flow.

Persons: Fatma, MIT SUHAYL, Waleed el, Degwy, Mohamed el, Muammar Gaddafi, you'd, Adel Ghannam, Mit Suhayl, Mohamed, Abdel Fattah al, Naela Gabr, Mostafa Abdel Salam, Hala, Nafisa Eltahir, Aidan Lewis, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, MIT, Reuters, European, Thomson Locations: Suhayl, Greece, Sharqia governorate, Egypt, Libya, Italy, Nile Delta, Europe, Ukraine, LIBYA, Egypt's, Libyan, Sudan

☆ Moody's downgrades Egypt deeper into junk territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A general view of Cairo skyline during sunset, with foggy cold weather around the country, Cairo, Egypt February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - Moody's on Thursday downgraded Egypt's credit rating by a notch to 'Caa1' from 'B3', citing the country's worsening debt affordability. Egypt has been facing an economic crisis with record inflation and a chronic foreign currency shortage, and a borrowing spree over the last eight years has made external debt repayments increasingly onerous. "Moody's expects the materialization of asset sale proceeds at the central bank to help restore the economy's foreign currency liquidity buffer," the credit rating agency said, placing Egypt's outlook at 'stable'. Egypt has imposed import restrictions to remedy the shortage of foreign currency, while at least two national banks have suspended the use of Egyptian pound debit cards outside the country to stop a drain on foreign currency.

Persons: Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Moody's, Sri Hari, Shinjini Organizations: REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Sri, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Bengaluru

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez's current wife killed a man while driving in New Jersey in 2018, records show. Body camera footage shows her telling police she 'didn't do anything wrong.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Nadine Arslanian hit a man who was jaywalking, NorthJersey.com reported, citing a police report. Now Arslanian Menendez, she was never charged in the case, the local paper reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementNadine Arslanian was involved in a fatal car accident in December 2018, NorthJersey.com reported on Wednesday. A police report said Arslanian struck and killed a man while driving her Mercedes-Benz on Main Street in Bogota, New Jersey, on December 12, 2018, the local paper reported. NorthJersey.com reported that she asked why Koop was in the road in the first place and then said that she "didn't do anything wrong."

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez's, Nadine Arslanian, NorthJersey.com, Arslanian Menendez, —, Arslanian, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Richard Koop, Koop Organizations: Service, Mercedes, Benz, Bogota Police Department, Senate, The New York Times, Name Medical Locations: Bogota , New Jersey, Bogota, New Jersey

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 2,300-year-old tomb found in Israel may contain remains of Greek courtesan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Archaeologists in Israel have discovered what they believe to be the remains of an Ancient Greek courtesan. Stiebel told CNN that he and his team believe the woman would have been among the first Greeks to arrive in the region. Liat Oz, the director of the excavation on behalf of the IAA, described the mirror found in the tomb alongside the remains. Researchers say the mirror is incredibly rare, with just 63 discovered in the Hellenistic world. Stiebel told CNN that the team are continuing with further research in order to “zoom in” on the finer details of the mirror.

Persons: Guy Stiebel, Emil Aladjem, ”, Alexander the Great, Stiebel, Oz, “, Alexandra the Great, ” Stiebel Organizations: CNN, Archaeologists, Tel Aviv University, Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Antiquities Authority “, IAA Locations: Israel, Kibbutz, Jerusalem, East, Ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, Greece

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is seeking to double the number of visitors to the country in the next five years, its top tourism official told The Associated Press. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector recovers from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said Tuesday. Last year, tourism revenues surged to $10.7 billion, up from around $5 billion in 2021, according to the Egyptian central bank. Such an increase, he said, would help the government achieve its target of 18 million tourist visits in 2024. Issa spoke to the AP from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a neoclassical structure built in the late 19th century and the first purpose-built museum in the Middle East and North Africa.

Persons: Ahmed Issa, “, ” Issa, Issa, ”, Hosni Mubarak, Ali Abdel, Halim, Abdel, Marcel Dourgnon, “ It’s Organizations: Associated Press, Antiquities, Egyptian, British Museum, European Union, National Museum of Egyptian, Grand Egyptian Museum Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Europe, Ukraine, Tourism, Russian, Cairo, East, North Africa, Paris, French

☆ Sen. Cory Booker gave an impassioned speech defending Sen. Bob Menendez's character during a closed-door lunch with fellow senators
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cory Booker gave an impassioned defense of Bob Menendez's character during a senators' lunch. AdvertisementAdvertisementSen. Cory Booker of New Jersey gave an impassioned defense of Sen. Bob Menendez's character during a closed-door lunch with other Democratic senators on Wednesday, according to four sources familiar with the meeting. In his Tuesday statement calling on Menendez to resign, Booker offered high praise for his colleague. "I've consistently found Senator Menendez to be intellectually gifted, tough, passionate, and deeply empathic. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who's also known Menendez for decades, has so far declined to call for Menendez to resign.

Persons: Cory Booker, Bob Menendez's, Booker, Menendez, —, Sen, Cory Booker of, I've, — Sen, Robin, Chuck Schumer, who's Organizations: Service, Cory Booker of New, Democratic, New, New Jersey Democrat Locations: Cory Booker of New Jersey, New York City, New Jersey, Egypt

☆ Latino lawmakers dismiss Sen. Bob Menendez's claims that he's being racially targeted: 'This is not that'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Menendez has argued that he's being targeted for being a "first-generation Latino American." AdvertisementAdvertisementFellow Latino lawmakers in Congress aren't buying Sen. Bob Menendez's claims that he's being targeted by prosecutors for his heritage. "Latinos face barriers and discrimination across the board in so many categories, including in our justice system. AdvertisementAdvertisementInsider asked several of Menendez's Latino colleagues in the Senate on Tuesday what they made of his argument, including Republican Sens. Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas also pushed back on Menendez's claims as she called on him to resign.

Persons: Sen, Menendez, it's, —, Bob Menendez's, he's, Pete Aguilar, Aguilar, Phil Murphy, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Democratic Sen, Ben Ray Luján, Rubio, Cruz, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Veronica Escobar, Escobar Organizations: Service, Democratic, House Democratic Caucus, New, New Jersey Democrat, Gov, Democrats, Republican Sens, of Justice, Texas Tribune Locations: Pete Aguilar of California, New York, Egypt, New Jersey, Ted Cruz of Texas, New Mexico, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Cortez, Veronica Escobar of Texas

☆ Protesters hold sign and shame Sen. Bob Menendez as he shows up in court on bribery charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey appeared in court Wednesday on criminal charges. Prosecutors allege he accepted cash and gold bricks from businessmen to help the Egyptian government. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Appearing defiant with a slight smile, the Democratic senator strode into the Manhattan federal courthouse alongside his wife, Nadine Menendez, who prosecutors allege also accepted the bribes. Menendez has denied the criminal charges, saying prosecutors "misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office."

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, —, strode, Nadine Menendez, Cory Booker, Donald Trump, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Menendez, Menendez texted, Hana, Prosecutors Organizations: Bob Menendez of New, Protesters, Democratic, Service, Benz, Photographers, Republican, Mercedes Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Egypt, Manhattan, New Jersey

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to pocketing bribes in a wide-ranging corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to federal charges accusing him of pocketing bribes of cash and gold bars in exchange for wielding his political influence to secretly advance Egyptian interests and do favors for local businessmen. Menendez spoke in court only when each defendant stood to acknowledge that they understood the charges against them. A lawyer entered the not guilty plea for Menendez, who was forced to step down as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted. They say Menendez also tried to interfere in criminal investigations involving associates, in one case pushing to install in New Jersey a federal prosecutor who he believed he could influence to derail a case. Two of the businessmen, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, also were arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, Sen, Menendez, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Jersey Sen, Cory Booker, Nadine, Nadine Menendez, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Hana, Prosecutors, Menendez's Organizations: Democrat, Court, Southern District of, U.S, Bob Menendez of New, Foreign, Senate, Illinois, Democrats, Authorities, Prosecutors, Kennedy Airport Locations: New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York City, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Englewood, , New Jersey, Egypt

"I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving," Booker said in a statement. I urge Senator Menendez to resign," said Senator Gary Peters, the head of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, in a statement. Many Democratic elected officials in Menendez's state of New Jersey, including Governor Phil Murphy, have also called for Menendez to resign. Menendez's Senate seat will be among those decided in next year's election. The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation by federal prosecutors.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, Booker, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Gary Peters, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Wael Hana, Makini Brice, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Luc Cohen, Josie Kao, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, U.S . Senate, Democrats, Democratic U.S, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, New, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Northeastern, New Jersey, Menendez's, Egypt, Manhattan, New York

He has again stepped down as chairman of the Foreign Affairs panel, as per Senate Democratic caucus rules, but has otherwise made clear that he’s not going anywhere. Political Cartoons View All 1182 ImagesThe calls for his resignation are in sharp contrast, though, to his first case. It also puts increased pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders who have so far stopped short of recommending that Menendez step down. Booker said it is a “mistake” for Menendez to say that stepping down would be unfair as the case has not been tried. Also calling for Menendez to step down on Monday were Democratic Sens.

Persons: — Democratic Sen, Cory Booker, Sen, Bob Menendez, ”, Menendez, Nadine, ” Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Booker, ” Booker, Democratic Sens, Tammy Baldwin of, Jon Tester, Montana, Jacky Rosen of, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Martin Heinrich of, John Fetterman of, Peter Welch of, Sherrod Brown of, Phil Murphy Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Democratic, New, New Jersey Democrat, Democratic, Foreign Relations Committee, Foreign Affairs, Hudson, College’s, clubby Senate, New Jersey Gov Locations: New Jersey, Egypt, Jersey, Hudson County, Union City, clubby, Jerseyans, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Peter Welch of Vermont, Sherrod Brown of Ohio

☆ Senate Democrats Baldwin, Casey, Tester call for Menendez's resignation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey and Jon Tester joined a growing number of Democrats on Tuesday in calling for Senator Bob Menendez to resign, after prosecutors charged him and his wife with taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. Menendez, also a Democrat, said on Monday that he would stay in the Senate and fight the charges. Democratic Senators John Fetterman, Sherrod Brown and Peter Welch have also called for Menendez to resign, as well as several Democratic elected officials in Menendez's state of New Jersey, including Governor Phil Murphy. Menendez's legal troubles could complicate his party's efforts to maintain control of the Senate, though New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the seat since 1972. Following the announcement of the charges on Friday, Democratic U.S. Representative Andy Kim said on Saturday he would challenge Menendez for his seat.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey, Jon Tester, Bob Menendez, Menendez, John Fetterman, Sherrod Brown, Peter Welch, Phil Murphy, Murphy, Andy Kim, Wael Hana, Makini Brice, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, Republican, Democratic U.S, Senate Foreign Relations, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Menendez's, New Jersey, Egypt, Manhattan

But “Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. “I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving." In the days after the indictment, calls for his resignation began, starting with members of the New Jersey congressional delegation (sans Rep. Bob Menendez Jr., the senator's son) and expanding to include New Jersey Gov. Absent from the initial push for Menendez's departure was Senate Democratic leadership and Booker, who works with Menendez on a regular basis representing New Jersey. A dozen more U.S. senators added their calls for their New Jersey Democratic colleague to leave.

Persons: Sen, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, lauding, Booker, Menendez, ” Booker, underscoring, “, Nadine, Bob Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, John Fetterman of, Eric Holder –, Nancy Pelosi, Fidel Castro, Tom Malinowski Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, California Democrat, New Jersey Democratic, Tom Malinowski , New, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey Democrat, MSNBC Locations: New Jersey, Jerseyans, Egypt, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, California, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Tom Malinowski ,, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey

☆ Booker Says Menendez Should Resign, Breaking Silence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Christopher Maag | More About Christopher Maag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Cory Booker called on Senator Robert Menendez, his fellow New Jersey Democrat, to resign Tuesday morning, ending days of silence after Mr. Menendez was indicted on bribery charges. As New Jersey’s junior senator, Mr. Booker often has described Mr. Menendez, the senior senator, as a friend, ally and mentor. His decision to condemn Mr. Menendez, and to join the growing chorus of state and federal officials calling on him to step down, demonstrates the deepening crisis facing a senator who until last week had occupied one of the most powerful and secure positions in American politics. “The details of the allegations against Senator Menendez are of such a nature that the faith and trust of New Jerseyans as well as those he must work with in order to be effective have been shaken to the core,” Mr. Booker said, adding: “I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving.”Mr. Menendez was charged on Friday with using his power as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to assist the government of Egypt and businessmen in New Jersey in exchange for bribes that included bars of gold bullion, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, exercise machines and more than $500,000 in cash.

Persons: Cory Booker, Robert Menendez, Menendez, Booker, Mr, ” Mr Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, Foreign Relations, Mercedes, Benz Locations: New Jersey, Jerseyans, Egypt

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