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Those rules were designed to prevent a repeat of the abuses of Richard Nixon, who improperly used the Justice Department to punish his political enemies. A new president appoints roughly 300 senior Justice Department officials, including the U.S. attorneys who run offices across the country. All 300 must be confirmed by the Senate, but multiple former Justice Department officials said they fear Trump would install partisans willing to do his bidding. Justice Department officials have risen to the occasion and defied presidential overreach in the past. You go in and just whack a good portion of the workforce,” the former Justice Department official said.

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☆ Menendez Will Resign From Senate, Avoiding an Ugly, Intraparty Battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Tracey Tully | Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Menendez’s decision to quit months before the end of his third term will likely allow Democrats to avoid a potentially ugly intraparty fight at a highly fraught political moment. New Jersey’s Democratic governor, Philip D. Murphy, is expected to appoint a replacement who would serve until January. Mr. Menendez, 70, has insisted that he is innocent and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. The decision, first reported by The New Jersey Globe, was described by four people familiar with Mr. Menendez’s remarks who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. One of them said Mr. Menendez planned to step down on Aug. 20 and could announce the decision publicly as soon as Tuesday afternoon.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Philip D, Murphy, Mr, Menendez, Menendez’s Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, The New, The New Jersey Globe Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Union City, N.J, Washington, The New Jersey

☆ Menendez Tells Allies He Is Considering Resigning After Conviction
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has privately told allies that he is considering resigning from Congress after his conviction in a sweeping bribery scheme rather than face a potential expulsion vote, according to three people familiar with his remarks. Two of the people, who were not authorized to discuss the conversations, cautioned that Mr. Menendez has not made a final decision and could still fight to serve out his term. Publicly, he has maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal Tuesday’s guilty verdict on 16 felony counts. “I have never been anything but a patriot,” Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, told reporters in New York after conviction. But the comments he made in phone calls with close associates in the hours after he left the Manhattan courthouse suggest for the first time that Mr. Menendez has absorbed how rapidly his political path forward is crumbling — and may be looking to avoid further public humiliation.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Tuesday’s, ” Mr Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Publicly Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York, Manhattan

A Manhattan jury returned the verdict after deliberating for about 13 hours over three days in Federal District Court. Mr. Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts he faced, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and acting as an agent for Egypt. The verdict made Mr. Menendez the first United States senator to be found guilty of acting as an agent of a foreign power and the seventh to be convicted of a federal crime while in office. Mr. Menendez, 70, now faces the possibility of many years in prison when he is sentenced by the judge, Sidney H. Stein. The judge said he would sentence Mr. Menendez on Oct. 29.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, Court, United Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, United States

☆ Menendez Has Been Convicted. What Happens Next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | More About Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey maintained his innocence on Tuesday and vowed to appeal his conviction on sweeping charges of bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice. Mr. Menendez offered few immediate answers. Judge Sidney H. Stein set a hearing to sentence Mr. Menendez and his co-defendants for Oct. 29, just a week before Election Day. The senator, who is free on a personal recognizance bond, could face up to 20 years in prison. It took only a matter of minutes, though, for Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, to face renewed calls to resign his Senate seat, including from Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, and Gov.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein, Chuck Schumer, Philip D, Murphy Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democrat, Gov Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York, Murphy of New Jersey

☆ What to Know About the Intricate Menendez Corruption Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was convicted on Tuesday of taking part in a complicated bribery scheme in which he traded political favors for cash, gold bars and other gifts. Federal prosecutors said the plot began in February 2018, less than a month after Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, was cleared of charges tied to an unrelated federal corruption case in New Jersey. Here are the central elements of the case against the senator and his two co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, two New Jersey businessmen:Aiding EgyptMr. Menendez was charged with using his influence and power as a senator in ways that benefited both the government of Egypt and Mr. Hana, an American citizen who emigrated from Egypt and was trying to get a halal meat certification company off the ground in New Jersey. Mr. Menendez, a former leader of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was accused of steering weapons and aid to Egypt in exchange for bribes.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Egypt Mr, Hana Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New Jersey, Jersey, Egypt, American

But he urged the jury to refocus of what he called a “clear pattern of corruption.”“The timeline tells you what happened,” he said. Afterward, Mr. Monteleoni said that the businessman, Wael Hana, and another wealthy associate began paying Ms. Menendez a generous salary. Mr. Monteleoni said that was not believable, and he presented text messages and Google search history that he said showed Mr. Menendez knew exactly what his wife was receiving. Mr. Monteleoni was expected to complete his closing argument on Tuesday morning. Mr. Menendez fumed as he left the courthouse on Monday.

Persons: Robert Menendez, ” Prosecutors, Nadine Menendez, Paul Monteleoni, ”, “, Menendez, Nadine, Mr, Monteleoni, Wael Hana, Menendez fumed Organizations: ”, Robert Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, Department of Agriculture, Senate Foreign Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, New Jersey

☆ How a Last-Ditch Effort to Save Menendez From Prosecution Backfired
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last September, a prominent white-collar defense lawyer met with federal prosecutors in Manhattan in a last-ditch effort to stave off an indictment against his client. In the meeting, the lawyer, Abbe D. Lowell, used a PowerPoint presentation to convey explanations for certain financial payments that were under scrutiny by the government. It was a moment of great risk and potential peril for Mr. Menendez — and the effort failed. Less than two weeks later, prosecutors announced an indictment charging the senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with conspiring to accept thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for political favors. The government has made it clear that Mr. Lowell, who represented Mr. Menendez only during the investigation and not afterward, engaged in no wrongdoing.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Abbe D, Lowell, Menendez —, Nadine Menendez, ”, Menendez Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, U.S, Southern, of Locations: Manhattan, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, of New York

☆ Menendez Defense Rests Without Senator Testifying
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

After calling just four witnesses, lawyers for Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey rested their case late Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court, setting the stage for jurors to begin deliberations in his international bribery conspiracy trial early next week. Mr. Menendez, 70, said that he decided against testifying in his own defense for two primary reasons. The government, he said, had not proved its case, and he did not want to give prosecutors an opportunity to rehash the charges twice — once on cross-examination and again in closing arguments. That was “simply not something that makes any sense to me whatsoever,” Mr. Menendez said as he left the courthouse after proceedings ended for the day.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, —, ” Mr Organizations: Robert Menendez of New Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan

☆ Hunter Biden conviction shatters Trump’s persecution narrative
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In his first reaction to the verdict, Hunter Biden didn’t attack the judge or prosecutors, simply saying he was grateful for the love and support of his family and blessed to be clean again. The Hunter Biden verdict also contradicted the central rationale of Trump’s multiple legal defenses in his four criminal cases, several civil matters and his entire presidential campaign. “So much for the weaponization of the Justice Department to go after just the enemies of the other side,” Michael Zeldin, a former senior Justice Department official and federal prosecutor, said on CNN Max on Tuesday. Stephen Miller, Trump’s former White House domestic policy adviser, argued that the Justice Department had actually shown favoritism toward Hunter Biden by not charging him with 50 felonies over foreign influence peddling. “Hunter Biden just became the Deep State’s sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is ‘balanced’ while the other Biden crimes remain ignored,” she wrote on X.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Hunter, “, ”, Hunter Biden, Trump, ” Trump, Phil McGraw, couldn’t, ” Michael Zeldin, CNN Max, General Merrick, Garland, David Weiss, Weiss, “ Hunter Biden, ” Ken Buck, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Julian Zelizer, he’s, who’s, He’s, ” Zelizer, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Henry Cuellar, Jamie Raskin, James Comer, Big Guy, ” Comer, Mike Johnson, Stephen Miller, Trump’s, ” Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene, baselessly Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Fox News, Trump, Democratic, Department, White House, Republican, Justice, Princeton University, “, Robert Menendez of New, Biden, Maryland Democrat, Kentucky Republican, Big, Louisiana Republican, BIG, Georgia Locations: America, Manhattan, Delaware, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Mexican, United States, Kentucky, Ukraine, China, Louisiana

☆ Senator Menendez Enjoyed a Steakhouse Dinner, as the F.B.I. Watched
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | Maria Cramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The man and the woman arrived at the Washington steakhouse one evening in May 2019 and took a table on the patio, near where five diners already were seated and seemed to be enjoying themselves. But there was something else that stood out: Among the five were Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey and his future wife, Nadine Menendez. The couple who had arrived late appeared to be on a date. But in reality, court testimony on Tuesday showed, he was photographing the people behind her, seated at the senator’s table. surveillance team, and they had deliberately sat near Mr. Menendez and his group, which also included an Egyptian government official.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez Organizations: Washington, Jackets, Robert Menendez of New, Mr Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey

☆ Menendez, on Trial, Files to Run for Re-election as an Independent
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, a lifelong Democrat who is in his fourth week of a federal bribery trial, filed paperwork Monday to run for re-election as an independent in November. The specter of Mr. Menendez, 70, trying to mount a comeback campaign raises the possibility of a splintered Democratic vote in November’s election, creating a wider lane for the Republican nominee at a time when Democrats are struggling to retain their narrow majority in the Senate. Mr. Menendez has been abandoned by most of the state’s leading Democrats, who quickly called on him to resign after he was indicted on corruption charges last year. He has defiantly refused to step down, but he opted not to run in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. He never, however, shut the door to running as an independent — enabling him to continue to raise and spend campaign contributions on lawyers hired to defend him and his wife, Nadine Menendez, who is also charged in the bribery conspiracy.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Mr, Menendez, Nadine Menendez Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Democratic, Republican Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey

☆ Analysis: Another trial, this one of Biden’s son, will deepen the election’s legal entanglement
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Four days after presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts in his hush money trial in New York, President Joe Biden’s son Hunter will be called to answer for federal gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware. But a CBS/YouGov poll released Sunday showed that Americans believe 57% to 43% that the Manhattan jury reached the right verdict. His inflammatory remarks did not reflect the fact that his refusal to accept his 2020 election loss and his demagoguery are far more reflective of developing-world banana republics than a fair jury trial. Hunter Biden is entitled to the same presumption of innocence and a trial by a jury of his peers that Trump was. “I’d rather be on President Biden’s side of that contrast than on the extreme MAGA Republican side,” he said.

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☆ Former U.S. Agriculture Official Says Menendez Told Him to ‘Stop Interfering’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In May 2019, a top official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture got a call on his cellphone from Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. The conversation was brief, the senator was curt, and the message was clear: “Stop interfering with my constituent.”Ted A. McKinney, then the under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, testified about the exchange on Friday during the third week of Mr. Menendez’s bribery trial in Federal District Court in Manhattan. It was the first time that jurors had heard directly from a witness who attributed conduct to the senator that is central to the government’s claim in an indictment that alleges a sprawling bribery conspiracy: that Mr. Menendez was willing to flex his political muscle to win favorable treatment for allies.

Persons: Robert Menendez, curt, ” Ted A, McKinney, Menendez Organizations: U.S . Department of Agriculture, Robert Menendez of New, Federal, Court Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan

☆ Menendez Judge Bars Some Prosecution Evidence in Bribery Trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Benjamin Weiser | Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In a potential setback for the government, a federal judge on Friday blocked the introduction of certain evidence that prosecutors wanted to use to support their case that Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey accepted bribes in exchange for approving billions of dollars in aid to Egypt. The judge’s order, which comes two weeks into Mr. Menendez’s corruption trial in Manhattan, could undermine prosecutors’ ability to prove certain elements of the multifaceted bribery charges against the senator. The ruling rests on protections afforded to members of Congress under the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which bars the government from citing specific legislative actions in seeking to prove a federal lawmaker committed a crime. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York has said it intended to sidestep discussion of official legislative acts and focus instead on promises it says preceded Mr. Menendez’s votes and congressional actions.

Persons: Robert Menendez Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Southern, of Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Egypt, Manhattan, U.S, of New York

☆ We’re in a ‘My Wife Did It’ Moment - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Gail Collins | Bret Stephens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bret Stephens: If President Biden gets through the debate without committing a gaffe, he’ll surpass expectations. If Donald Trump gets through it without committing a felony, he’ll surpass expectations. Or hey, even the dead worm in Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s brain. As for Biden, will he give people confidence that he can go the distance for another four years? Or will he stumble and refer to his close working relationships with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau of Canada or President José López Portillo of Mexico?

Persons: Gail Collins, Gee Bret, Bret Stephens, Biden, Donald Trump, Gail, Robert Menendez, Robert F, Kennedy, we’ve, Bret, Trump, Will, MAGA, Pierre Trudeau of, José López Portillo Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Pierre Trudeau of Canada Locations: mull, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Mexico

☆ Opinion: Credibility is the key at Trump trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

The idea that Cohen talked to Trump about Daniels on that call “was a lie,” Blanche alleged. Moreover, my experience has been that juries don’t decide based upon one moment — they base their judgment on an overall view.”There were allegedly three parties aware of the scheme to conceal the real reason Trump paid Cohen more than $400,000 in supposed legal fees: Trump, Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, then-chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. “Weisselberg could be the linchpin to validate Cohen’s claims about Trump agreeing to reimburse him through Trump Organization, as a business expense,” wrote attorney Stacy Schneider. Trump seems to be tempted to go mano a mano and show that he is better fit to be commander-in-chief. The new requirement for GOP politicians wanting to demonstrate their loyalty to Trump seems to be visiting the Manhattan courthouse where he’s on trial.

Persons: CNN —, ” Mark Twain, “, Twain, ” Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, —, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Todd Blanche, Cohen, Norm Eisen, Blanche, ”, pummeled Cohen, Robert Mueller, Nick Anderson, Agency Cohen, Keith Schiller, Daniels, ” Blanche, ” Eisen, don’t, Allen Weisselberg, Stacy Schneider, Weisselberg, David Zurawik, “ I’ve, Sen, Robert Menendez, He’s, George Santos ., CNN “ It’s, he’s, ‘, Henry Cuellar, ” Cupp, Drew Sheneman, Georgia —, Vladimir Putin’s, Frida Ghitis, ” Ghitis, Joe Biden’s, ” Dana Summers, “ Biden, ” Julian Zelizer, mano, Biden, ” Bill Bramhall, Stephanie Griffith, Howard Tucker, Gayle Fleming, Michael Ventura Gayle Fleming, Biden —, ” Tom Brady’s, Kara Alaimo, Tom Brady “, Kevin Hart, Gisele Bündchen, Brady, Benjamin, Vivian, ’ Brady, ’, Alaimo, Brady didn’t, Nafees Syed, Kamel El Hilali, Andrew Borene, freakout Scott Stantis, Jeff Yang, … ” Brown, Keith Magee, Brown, backpedaling, Forget, Doug Burgum, Scott Jennings, Burgum’s, Bill Bramhall, Content Agency Clarence Thomas Washington, Clarence Thomas ’, Dean Obeidallah, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ” Clay Jones, John Oliver’s, Steve Vladeck, “ Thomas, ” Don’t, Clayton Swope, Dan Perry, Netanyahu, Jill Filipovic, Miss Teen USA Mary Ziegler, Bob Kolasky, Megan L, Ranney, Karen Tang, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jonathan Yeo, King Charles III, Aaron Chown, Holly Thomas, King Organizations: CNN, Trump, Tribune, Agency, Trump Organization, Twitter, Facebook, DC, Robert Menendez of New, GOP, ” Texas, White, Europe, Russia, Kyiv, Biden, ABC, Democratic Party, Netflix, Garden State, Content Agency, Capitol, Consumer Financial, Board, Fifth Circuit, ICC, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Buckingham Palace, Royal Locations: New York, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Russian, Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Soviet Republic, United States, Cleveland, “, Manhattan, North, . North Dakota, ” That’s, Louisiana , Mississippi, Texas, Florida’s, Buckingham

☆ Jury Selection in Menendez Trial Stretches Into a Third Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jury selection in the corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey stretched into a third day on Wednesday, as a judge prepared to seat a dozen citizens who will soon weigh one of the most serious sets of charges ever brought against a sitting senator. The judge, Sidney H. Stein, spent much of Tuesday questioning dozens of potential jurors from New York City and Westchester County, quizzing them on their professions, experiences with the criminal justice system and preferred news sources. After hours in the Manhattan federal courtroom, he indicated a final panel was imminent. “We will be picking a jury by the end of the morning,” Judge Stein said late Tuesday, adding that he expected to begin opening statements quickly thereafter. Prosecutors will go first, offering jurors and the public a preliminary outline of a sprawling corruption and bribery case that involves $100,000 in gold bars, an Egyptian halal meat monopoly and a Qatari sheikh.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Sidney H, Stein, ” Judge Stein Organizations: Prosecutors Locations: Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York City, Westchester County, Manhattan, Qatari

☆ Sen. Robert Menendez bribery trial: Opening statements expected in corruption case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), arrives at Federal Court, for his bribery trial in connection with an alleged corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in New York City, U.S., May 14, 2024. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are poised Wednesday to select a full jury and deliver opening statements in the federal bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Prosecutors will begin their opening statements shortly afterward "if all goes to plan," the judge said. A third New Jersey businessman charged in the case, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty in March and agreed to cooperate with the federal prosecutors. Nadine Menendez has not been in court with her husband.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Sen, Sidney Stein, Stein, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hanna, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe Organizations: Federal Court, Prosecutors, Robert Menendez of New, Democratic, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Locations: Jersey, New York City, U.S, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, Qatar, New Jersey

A Manhattan judge refused on Thursday to dismiss bribery and other charges against Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey on the grounds that they violate constitutional protections afforded to members of Congress. The ruling does not address other grounds that Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, has cited in asking that the charges against him, which are still pending before the judge, be dismissed. Mr. Menendez could file an appeal of the ruling, which could end up delaying his trial for months. It currently is scheduled to begin on May 6. Lawyers for Mr. Menendez had asked the judge, Sidney H. Stein of Federal District Court, to throw out the charges, arguing that overzealous prosecutors were criminalizing the normal activity of legislators and flouting the protections given to members of Congress under what is known as the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Sidney H, Stein Organizations: Manhattan, Robert Menendez of New, Democrat, Federal, Court Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey

☆ Opinion: How America became immune to scandal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s note: CNN’s six-part series “United States of Scandal With Jake Tapper” will premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT February 18. As president, Trump experienced more moments that would traditionally be defined as a scandal than almost any other high official in recent memory, arguably surpassing his notorious predecessor, Richard Nixon. In an era when most Americans are more concerned about the political party of their children’s future spouse than their religion, this calculation is dominant. One study even found that legislators often raise more money after a scandal, especially if the issue received media coverage. For all these reasons, scandal in 2024 isn’t your grandfather’s scandal.

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Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey had a problem — and, prosecutors say, an opportunity. And as New Jersey’s senior senator, Mr. Menendez was in a position to help, by recommending the next leader of the office overseeing the case. In early 2021, Mr. Menendez urged President Biden to nominate a lawyer he knew well as the state’s next U.S. attorney: Esther Suarez, a politically connected prosecutor in his home county. When White House and Justice Department officials interviewed Ms. Suarez, they found her knowledge of federal law lacking, and they had substantial concerns about her qualifications, according to four people familiar with the sessions. Mr. Menendez pushed for Ms. Suarez to be given another chance, the people said.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez, Biden, Esther Suarez, Suarez, Mr Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, White, Justice Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey

☆ Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Plotting to Be an Agent of Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Tracey Tully | More About Tracey Tully | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey pleaded not guilty on Monday to a new federal charge that accused him of illegally plotting to be an agent of Egypt while serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was Mr. Menendez’s second not-guilty plea in a month after he and his wife, Nadine Menendez, were accused of being at the center of a broad web of political corruption. The couple has been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for Mr. Menendez’s efforts to increase aid and weapons sales to Egypt while also working to quash criminal investigations for associates in New Jersey. The bribery-related charges were first announced last month by federal prosecutors in Manhattan; a revised indictment, made public on Oct. 12, included the new charge of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government. Ms. Menendez, 56, pleaded not guilty to the new conspiracy charge last week, but Mr. Menendez was granted permission to appear on Monday, instead, so that he could be present in Washington for legislative business.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez’s, Nadine Menendez, Menendez Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Egypt, New Jersey, Manhattan, Washington

Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe disdain for Congress is just one area where Americans say they are losing faith. Various polls say the negative feelings include a loss of confidence or interest in institutions such as organized religion, policing, the Supreme Court, even banking. “Trust in institutions has deteriorated substantially,” said Kay Schlozman, professor of political science at Boston College. Just 3% have a great deal of confidence in Congress, virtually unchanged from March. The polling reinforces that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say their confidence in the Supreme Court is low.

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☆ Gold Bullion and Halal Meat: Inside the Menendez Investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Nicole Hong | More About Nicole Hong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was January 2018, and Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey had just won a huge legal victory. The future Ms. Menendez was eager to connect her influential new boyfriend with Mr. Hana’s high-level connections in the Egyptian government. Prosecutors accused Mr. Menendez, 69, of abusing his power to influence arms sales to Egypt and to attempt to interfere with criminal investigations into Mr. Hana’s web of business associates. search last year of the couple’s New Jersey home revealed some of the fruits of their scheme, prosecutors said. Inside the home were more than $100,000 worth of gold bars, some of which had unique serial numbers that traced back to Mr. Hana.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Weeks, Nadine Arslanian, Arslanian, Menendez, Wael Hana, Hana’s, Mr, Hana Organizations: Robert Menendez of New, U.S . Justice Department, Prosecutors, Benz Locations: Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Egyptian American, New Jersey, Egypt, Jersey

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