Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg NewsSen. Bob Menendez hosted a 2018 meeting in his Washington, D.C., office with a New Jersey businessman who is a focus of a federal public-corruption probe of the Democratic lawmaker that has broadened in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. The meeting, which hasn’t been previously reported, came months before the businessman, Wael Hana , secured a contract with Egyptian officials for certifying halal meat exports. The contract is a key part of the probe examining whether Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, or his wife received gifts in exchange for political favors.

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Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Al Drago, Bloomberg News Sen, hasn’t, Wael Hana, Menendez Organizations: Foreign Relations, Bloomberg News, D.C, Democratic Locations: N.J, Washington, New Jersey