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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

☆ 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

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

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ As Menendez’s Star Rose, Fears of Corruption Cast a Persistent Shadow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | More About Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Robert Menendez’s education in political corruption came unusually early. In 1982, he turned against his mentor, Mayor William V. Musto of Union City, N.J., the popular leader of their gritty hometown. Mr. Menendez took the witness stand and testified that city officials had pocketed kickbacks on construction projects, helping to put a man many considered his father figure behind bars. Mr. Menendez, then 28, wore a bulletproof vest for a month. The son of Cuban immigrants, Mr. Menendez broke barriers for Latinos and has used his perch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to influence presidents and prime ministers.

Persons: Robert Menendez’s, William V, Menendez Organizations: Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Union City, N.J, 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 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

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

☆ 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

"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

Some elected officials, including the Democratic governor of Menendez's state of New Jersey, have publicly urged him to step down. Sherrod Brown became the second Senate Democrat to call for Menendez to resign, saying in a statement: "Senator Menendez has broken the public trust and should resign from the U.S. Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, on Saturday urged Menendez to resign in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Senator Peter Welch also said he encouraged Menendez to resign because the allegations against him had "compromised his capacity" to be an "effective senator." Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez and the businessmen are expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nancy Pelosi, Menendez, Sherrod Brown, John Fetterman, Peter Welch, Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Karine Jean, Pierre, Andy Kim, Barack Obama's, Makini Brice, Doina, Steve Holland, Kanishka Singh, Scott Malone, Mark Porter, Matthew Lewis, Sonali Paul Organizations: Democratic, Former U.S . House, MSNBC, Republican, Foreign Relations, New, U.S, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Pennsylvania Democrat, Saturday, Democratic U.S, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Benz, New Jersey Democrat, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Menendez's, New Jersey, Former, Pennsylvania, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Egypt, Manhattan, Cuba, Iran, Washington

☆ Erdogan sees advantage in U.S. senator Menendez's troubles -media
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsANKARA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey needs to turn the legal troubles of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a long-time critic of his government, into opportunity for its requested purchase of F-16 U.S. fighter jets, Turkish media said on Tuesday. Erdogan raised Turkey's pending ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid and said the White House must also fulfil its promise on the F-16s. The Biden administration is linking F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey with Ankara's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid, Erdogan also said.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Brendan McDermid, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Erdogan, Turkey's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, NATO, Turkey, Lockheed Martin Corp, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights ANKARA, Turkey, Jersey

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) delivers remarks, after he and his wife Nadine Menendez were indicted on bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union City, New Jersey, U.S., September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A New Jersey businessman pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of bribing U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez, 69, his 56-year-old wife, Nadine Menendez, and two other businessmen accused of bribing the senior New Jersey senator are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday. Prosecutors say Hana, who is originally from Egypt, arranged meetings in 2018 between Menendez and Egyptian officials.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Wael Hana, Judge Ona Wang, Menendez, Hana, Washington, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, New, Prosecutors, Senate Foreign Relations, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, New Jersey, Manhattan, Egypt, United States, New York

Menendez, the senior Democratic senator for New Jersey, has been a vocal opponent of Turkey receiving aircraft to update its fighter fleet. “One of our most important problems regarding the F-16s were the activities of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez against our country,” Erdogan told journalists on a flight back from Azerbaijan on Monday. “Menendez’s exit gives us an advantage but the F-16 issue is not an issue that depends only on Menendez,” Erdogan added. Neither Washington nor Ankara have openly admitted a link between Sweden’s bid to the F-16 deal but it is widely acknowledged unofficially. “We will raise our voices even more for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be recognized by other countries,” Erdogan said.

Persons: —, Sen, Bob Menendez, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Menendez, U.S . Sen, ” Erdogan, Antony Blinken, Hakan Fidan, Erdogan, Blinken, Fidan, ”, “, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: U.S, Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, U.S ., Turkish, NATO, Finland, Israeli, General Assembly Locations: ISTANBUL, Turkish, New Jersey, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ankara, Greece, Sweden, Stockholm, Ukraine, Hungary, Washington, Nakhchivan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Armenia, Iran, Tehran, New York, Israel, Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

☆ Erdogan Sees Advantage in U.S. Senator Menendez's Troubles -Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey needs to turn the legal troubles of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a long-time critic of his government, into opportunity for its requested purchase of F-16 U.S. fighter jets, Turkish media said on Tuesday. NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes. The Biden administration is linking F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey with Ankara's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid, Erdogan also said. Turkey will ratify Stockholm's bid if the administration keeps its promise on the F-16 sale, he added.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Erdogan, Turkey's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer Organizations: Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, NATO, Turkey, Lockheed Martin Corp Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Jersey, U.S

☆ Mum's the bad word: Most big Menendez donors won't say if they will keep backing New Jersey senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Several top party donors have privately told Menendez's campaign that he should resign, according to a longtime past supporter who spoke with CNBC. The PAC so far has raised approximately $300,000 for Menendez's 2024 reelection campaign, according to its president, Dr. Ben Chouake. NorPAC has donated a combined $15,500 toward the Menendez campaign and separate leadership PAC since 2017, according to OpenSecrets data. Prudential Financial , the large insurer, has donated $35,000 through their PAC toward Menendez's political operation since 2017, according to OpenSecrets. A Prudential spokeswoman declined to comment when asked whether the company's PAC would continue to support Menendez following his indictment.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, NorPAC, Jon Kaiden, Kaiden, Cory Booker of, Ben Chouake, Chouake, We've, Couake, Goldman Sachs, General Atomics, Greenberg Traurig Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, CNBC, Baleon Capital, Menendez, Fund, Senate Foreign Relations, Banking, Finance, Democratic, Senate, Menendez's, PAC, Pfizer, Prudential Financial, Prudential, company's PAC, FEC, Comcast, Merck, Holtec Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, New Jersey, Israel, Manhattan, Cory Booker of New Jersey, OpenSecrets, Jerusalem

REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Charges that Senator Bob Menendez accepted bribes in exchange for wielding his influence to aid the Egyptian government prompted calls in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for the Biden administration to rethink $235 million in military aid to Cairo. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Middle East subcommittee, said he hoped the committee would investigate the allegations and Egypt's involvement. "I have not talked to colleagues about this yet, but obviously this raises pretty serious questions about Egypt, Egypt's conduct," he said. The indictment against Menendez also says he had close relationships with members of Egypt's intelligence services and held meetings to discuss U.S. military aid. He has stepped down temporarily from his role as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Bob Menendez, Biden, Chris Murphy, Menendez, Murphy, Joe Biden's, Don Beyer, Beyer, Patricia Zengerle, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Congress, Democratic, Relations, Foreign Relations, Egypt Human Rights Caucus, U.S . Senate, CNN, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Cairo, Egypt, Washington

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