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☆ Opinion | Justice Alito’s Blame-the-Wife Defense Never Goes Out of Style
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jennifer Weiner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In seeking to shift their own controversies onto their marital partners, Justice Samuel Alito and Senator Robert Menendez joined a tradition that extends across party lines and stretches back through the centuries. First up: Justice Alito, who was presented with photographs of an upside-down flag flying in front of his house. Justice Alito bravely, manfully, clearly announced to the world that his wife did it. “I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Justice Alito told The Times, in an emailed statement. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”

Persons: Samuel Alito, Robert Menendez, we’d, Justice Alito, Biden’s, manfully, “, Alito, ” Organizations: Capitol, ”, Times Locations: Washington

☆ 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

☆ The Mrs. defense: powerful men blaming their wives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Alito said in a written statement to The New York Times, which first reported the story this week. A Supreme Court justice being unmasked as having a partisan tilt wouldn’t be illegal – just awkward and icky. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersCouples behaving badlyFormer Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, pioneered the Mrs. defense when he and his wife were both accused of funneling campaign funds for private use. A unanimous US Supreme Court, including Alito, later vacated the governor’s conviction and narrowed the scope by which prosecutors can pursue bribery allegations. The Mrs. defense could conceivably be turned on its head and used by a powerful woman to blame her husband.

Persons: Samuel Alito doesn’t, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Alito, “, ” Alito, Ann, Alito won’t, Clarence Thomas ’, Ginni, Thomas, Menendez ‘, Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez’s, Shannon Stapleton, Duncan Hunter, Margaret, Trump, Henry Cuellar, Imelda, ”, . Cuellar, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sandra, Bob McDonnell, Maureen, Cori Bush, Bush, Kim Taylor, Jeremy Taylor Organizations: CNN, New York Times, House, New, New Jersey Democrat, California Republican, Texas Democrat, Illinois Democrat, Former Virginia Gov, Republican, Missouri Democrat, Supervisors Locations: New Jersey, New York, Manhattan, New York City, California, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Iowa, Woodbury County

☆ Take My Wife, Please: For Political Damage Control, Just Blame Your Spouse
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Rebecca Davis O Brien | Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is a tale as old as Adam and Eve: A husband, faced with accusations of misconduct, blames the wife. It is also a time-honored, bipartisan political strategy. This week, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey pointed ringed fingers at their wives for episodes that have landed each man in political or legal trouble. The justice’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was in a feud with neighbors at the time over an anti-Trump sign, The Times reported. In the case of Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, it was his lawyer who did the finger pointing.

Persons: Adam, Samuel A, Alito Jr, Bob Menendez, Alito, ”, Donald J, Trump’s, Biden’s, Martha, Ann Alito, Menendez, Avi Weitzman Organizations: Bob Menendez of New, New York Times, Times, Democrat Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Manhattan

Senator Robert Menendez’s bribery trial got underway this week in a Manhattan courtroom eight months after he was first indicted on corruption charges. The government has brought a complicated set of accusations against Mr. Menendez, 70. “This case is about a public official who put greed first,” said Lara Pomerantz, an assistant U.S. attorney. “A public official who put his own interests above his duty to the people. Who put his power up for sale.”Two businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, are on trial with Mr. Menendez, accused of plying him with bribes.

Persons: Robert Menendez’s, Menendez, ”, Lara Pomerantz, “, Who, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Nadine Menendez Locations: Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, New Jersey, U.S

☆ Senator Menendez’s Wife Is Being Treated for Breast Cancer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Tracey Tully | Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Wednesday, a lawyer representing Senator Robert Menendez in his bribery trial painted a picture of a marriage cloaked in secrecy and deception, casting the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, as an opportunist who traded on his name. Less than 24 hours later, Mr. Menendez was projecting a new message: He was a protective husband asking for privacy for his wife, who, he revealed for the first time, was being treated for breast cancer. “We are of course concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease,” Mr. Menendez, 70, said in the statement. “We hope and pray for the best results.”The timing of the announcement, issued by his Senate office, punctuated a remarkable first week of trial. And the revelation served to shine a newly intense spotlight on a couple whose fates are intertwined — but whose priorities may not be.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez, Mr

☆ Wife of Sen. Robert Menendez has breast cancer, he reveals during corruption trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his wife Nadine Arslanian, arrive at the US District Court, Southern District of New York, in New York City on September 27, 2023. Nadine Menendez, the wife and co-defendant of Sen. Robert Menendez, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Democratic lawmaker revealed Thursday during his trial on federal corruption charges. Nadine Menendez "had financial concerns that she kept from Bob," he said. The attorney advised the jurors that every time they hear evidence about Nadine Menendez, they should ask themselves, "What did Bob know?" "Every action Senator Menendez took was to help his constituents," he said.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Arslanian, Nadine Menendez, Sen, Robert Menendez, Menendez, Nadine, ” Menendez, Nadine Menendez's, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Avi Weitzman, Weitzman, Bob, Waldo, Laura Pomerantz, Pomerantz Organizations: Democrat, Court, Southern District of, Democratic, NBC Locations: New Jersey, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York City, Manhattan, Jersey, U.S

☆ Live Updates: Opening Statements in Bribery Trial of Robert Menendez Begin
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | Ben Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, second from left, sits with his children Alicia and Rob and Gov. Alicia and Rob Menendez have surely enjoyed the privileges of being children of a powerful political leader. After a former ally pleaded guilty and began cooperating with prosecutors, Senator Menendez and Nadine Menendez were additionally charged with obstructing justice. Alicia Menendez, 40, has been forced to address the charges against her father — and calls for his resignation — on live television. “When your close loved one is at the center of a political scandal,” she said, “it’s in your obit too.”

Persons: Robert Menendez, Alicia, Jon Corzine, Rob Menendez, Rob, Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez, Super Mario Bros, ”, —, Alicia Menendez, Sally Quinn, “ Organizations: Democrat, Rob, MSNBC, Democratic, Benz, Super, —, The Washington Post Locations: New Jersey, New Brunswick, N.J, Biden’s

☆ 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

☆ Menendez defense lawyer denies bribery scheme and says gold bars found at senator’s home belonged to his wife
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Menendez is not running for reelection in next month’s Democratic primary but has said he would consider an independent bid should he be exonerated. “Evidence will show Nadine’s family had a lot of gold,” Weitzman said, asserting that she did not discuss money with the senator and kept financial problems she had from him. Weitzman also said the gold bars were found in Nadine’s locked closet, which the senator didn’t have access to. The potential jurors – an array of New Yorkers, including pastors, a standup comedian and amateur musicians – were pressed on whether they could be unbiased and fairly consider testimony from law enforcement officers or convicted criminals. One potential juror spoke about being a “news junkie” who couldn’t sit on the trial because “I’ve learned about the case significantly.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Bob Menendez’s, “, ” Menendez, Avi Weitzman, Nadine, Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Donald, Lara Pomerantz, “ Robert Menendez, ” Pomerantz, Nadine Menendez, Weitzman, ” “, ”, ” Weitzman, Menendez “, ” Nadine, didn’t, Hana, whittle, “ I’ve, Sidney Stein, they’ve, ” Stein, Bob Menendez, Stein, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, I’m Organizations: CNN, New, New Jersey Democrat, Jersey businessmen, Democratic, United, White House, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, Jersey, Egyptian American, United States, Lebanon, Paris

☆ Robert Menendez’s Corruption Trial Opens: 5 Takeaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Nicholas Fandos | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez, a powerful New Jersey Democrat, spun into motion in Manhattan on Wednesday, with combative opening statements and an extraordinary claim by the defense. Speaking directly to the jury, a U.S. prosecutor asserted that Mr. Menendez “put his power up for sale,” trading favors involving Egypt and New Jersey businessmen for gold bars, cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. But it was a lawyer for Mr. Menendez who shook the courtroom awake, piling blame on the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez. Mr. Menendez, 70, betrayed little emotion as he watched the opening statements from the courtroom, where he is facing some of the gravest charges ever leveled against a sitting U.S. senator. Prosecutors have also charged Ms. Menendez, but her trial was delayed until July for health reasons.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Mr, Menendez “, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana Organizations: New Jersey Democrat, Benz, Prosecutors Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, U.S, Egypt

☆ 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

☆ Jury selection begins in bribery case against Sen. Bob Menendez in New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jonathan Dienst | Dareh Gregorian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jury selection begins Monday in the federal criminal trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who is charged with accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in bribes — including some in gold bars — in return for official acts. It also alleges the couple received "gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and other items of value," such as jewelry and exercise equipment. The other two, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, have pleaded not guilty and will stand trial alongside Menendez. The indictment noted a search of Menendez's home in 2022 turned up "two one-kilogram gold bars and nine one-ounce gold bars that had serial numbers indicating they had previously been possessed" by Daibes. The federal criminal trial is the second Menendez has faced since he was elected to the Senate in 2006.

Persons: . Sen, Bob Menendez, he's, Nadine Menendez, Damian Williams, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Menendez, Daibes, Uribe, He's, Donald Trump Organizations: ., Senate Foreign Relations, Prosecutors, Southern, of New York, Government, Democratic, Senate, Democratic Party Locations: New Jersey, Qatar, Egypt, Hana, Cuba, Florida, Paris

☆ Sen. Menendez bribery trial starts with judge scolding lawyers on 'gamesmanship'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Robert Menendez arrives at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, New York, United States on May 13, 2024. A judge on Monday admonished attorneys for playing legal games shortly after they convened for the start of the federal bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J."There's been too much gamesmanship here," Judge Sidney Stein told prosecutors and defense attorneys before jury selection began for the trial in federal court in Manhattan. His wife, Nadine Menendez, is also charged in the corruption case, but her trial was severed from her husband's due to what her lawyers said were medical issues. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York told Stein that they expect to lay out their case in four-and-a-half to six-and-a-half weeks. The trial itself could last around six to seven weeks, Stein told dozens of prospective jurors before giving them a rough outline the 18-count indictment against Menendez and his co-defendants.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Sen, There's, Sidney Stein, Stein, I'm, Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe, Prosecutors, Nadine Menendez, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels Organizations: New, Senate Foreign Relations, Prosecutors, Attorney's, Southern, of, of New York, Manhattan Supreme Locations: Manhattan , New York, United States, Manhattan, New Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, of New

☆ Robert Menendez’s Trial Is Set to Begin, With a Sprawling Web of Charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jury selection for Senator Robert Menendez’s corruption trial starts on Monday in a federal courthouse in Manhattan, a 20-mile drive from Mr. Menendez’s home in northern New Jersey, where for decades he has been a well-known Democratic political leader. His efforts to move the trial to his home turf failed. Jurors picked to decide the case will be from Manhattan, the Bronx or one of several New York counties north of the city. Mr. Menendez, 70, will be tried with two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. His wife, Nadine Menendez, 57, was also charged in the bribery scheme but will be tried separately, in July.

Persons: Robert Menendez’s, Menendez’s, Menendez, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Nadine Menendez Organizations: Democratic, Prosecutors, U.S, Southern, of Locations: Manhattan, New Jersey, Bronx, New York, of New York, Qatari, Jersey

☆ Bob Menendez: Here’s what prosecutors say bought off a US senator
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here’s what prosecutors say the senator and his wife got:Gold barsProsecutors say Hana and Daibes gave Menendez and his wife gold bars, which were seized by the FBI from the Menendez residence. After returning from a trip to Egypt and getting a ride home from the airport from Daibes’ driver, prosecutors say Menendez searched online for the price of a gold bar. Nadine Menendez needed a new car, apparently after hitting and killing a jaywalker in Bogota, New Jersey, in December 2018. There is a long list of actions prosecutors say Menendez undertook in exchange for all of these alleged bribes. The envelopes of cash prosecutors say bore Daibes’ fingerprints may be more difficult to explain.

Persons: CNN — Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Mercedes, Menendez, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, ”, Nadine, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, Jose Uribe, Daibes, Nadine Menendez’s, Nadine Menendez, Uribe, Hana, –, …, Qataris, retry Menendez, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN — Democratic, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Capitol, FBI, Court Southern District of, Prosecutors, Court Southern District of New York Prosecutors, Court Southern District of New York, Menendez, Uribe, Mercedes, Benz, Senate Foreign Relations, US Department of Agriculture, New York, of Justice Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, New Jersey, Daibes, Court Southern District of New York, Bogota , New Jersey, New

☆ Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case? Mr. Menendez goes to trial on May 13 with two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Fred Daibes New Jersey Real Estate Developer Mr. Daibes is accused of giving Mr. Menendez furniture, gold and cash. Nadine Menendez Mr. Menendez’s Wife Ms. Menendez served as a go-between for Mr. Menendez, Egyptian intelligence officials and men who were seeking political favors from the senator, according to the indictment. Defense LawyersAdam Fee Lawyer for Robert Menendez He previously spent five years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District — the same office prosecuting Mr. Menendez.

Persons: Menendez, Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mr, Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, Menendez's, Daibes, Nadine Menendez Mr, Menendez’s, Ms, Jose Uribe, Uribe, Uribe's, Sidney H, Stein, Bill Clinton, Jennifer Shah, Hassan Nemazee, Damian Williams, Williams, President Biden, Sam Bankman, Fried, Juan Orlando Hernández, Christina Clark, Clark, Charles McGonigal, Catherine Ghosh, Eli Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Robert Hadden, Lara Pomerantz, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Norman Seabrook, Daniel Richenthal, Sheldon Silver, Michael Avenatti, Adam Fee, Fee, Avi Weitzman, Lawrence Lustberg Organizations: Democrat, Robert Menendez New Jersey, Senate Foreign Relations, Jersey Real, EG, Prosecutors, United, Jose Uribe Former New, Benz, U.S, Southern, of, Democratic, Attorney, Southern District of, ex, Public, New, New York City Housing Authority, Justice Department, Southern District’s, New York State Assembly, Nike . Defense, Southern District Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Jose Uribe Former New Jersey, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York, Russian, New York City, Brooklyn, Columbia, New York, U.S, California

☆ Rep. Henry Cuellar's indictment has the GOP comparing him to George Santos. Here's what to know about the Texas Democrat's bribery scandal.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The growing scandal is drawing some comparisons on the right to George Santos. AdvertisementRep. Henry Cuellar is in the midst of a growing bribery scandal involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Cuellar is the third sitting lawmaker to be indicted this Congress, following former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New York. AdvertisementThe George Santos comparisonIt's only been a few days, but so far, Democrats have largely held off on calling for Cuellar to resign. Former Rep. George Santos at the State of the Union in March.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, George Santos, —, Cuellar, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Santos, Cuellar's, Jessica Cisneros, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Bernie Sanders, That's, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt McClain, Getty Images Santos, don't, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Democratic, Service, Justice, Texas Democrat, Republican Rep, George Santos of New, New, State Oil Company, Banco Azteca, Democrat, National Rifle Association, Rep, FBI, Republicans, State, Union, Washington, Getty Images, Botox Locations: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, New York, Texas, Azerbaijan Republic, Alexandria

☆ Inside Rep. Rob Menendez's fight to be more than a 'nepo baby'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

"I don't have the capacity to think through, well, what if, what if, what if," Menendez told me. Mayor Bhalla told me that he began contemplating his primary challenge shortly after the elder Menendez was first indicted in September. AdvertisementSitting in his recently opened campaign office, the mayor told me that the most important facet of his candidacy was his fight against New Jersey's party boss-driven political culture. "Everything here is a headline or a deadline driving the process," Councilman Paul Presinzano said of Mayor Bhalla. Menendez looks on as Bhalla's opening remarks at a Jersey City candidate forum are filmed by a cameraman.

Persons: Rob Menendez —, Sen, Bob Menendez —, Ravi Bhalla, Menendez, —, Rob Menendez, Bob Menendez, who's, that's, frat bro, I've, Stephen Chernin, he's, father's, Phil Murphy, Bhalla, Pete Buttigieg, outraise Menendez, Ted Shaffrey Bhalla, Menendez —, there's, They're, Andy Kim, Tammy Murphy, James Solomon, you've, hasn't, bossism, Anna Moneymaker, deriding, didn't, I'm, wasn't, we're, It's, Sam Bankman, rZ6H2IB4N0, — Rob Menendez, @RobMenendez4NJ, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, Kim, Fisher, Paul Presinzano, Union City —, Donald Trump, Bryan Metzger, Rob's, Tammy Murphy's, He's, Cory Booker, Rob Menendez Bhalla, Steve Fulop —, corruptly Organizations: Hoboken, Service, Nike Air Force, Gov, Port Authority of New, New Jersey ., Sikh American, Congress, South, AP, New, Democratic Rep, First, Jersey City, Getty, Lipton Tea Company, House Transportation, Infrastructure, Union City, Homeland Security, Democratic, House Democratic, Facebook Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Hoboken, Port Authority of New York, he's, Jersey City, Washington ,, Washington and NJ, Menendez's, Union City

They also argued that having the doctor testify appeared to be an effort by Mr. Menendez to present alleged facts before the jury without subjecting himself to cross-examination by testifying himself. He will be tried with two New Jersey businessmen who also were accused of participating in the bribery conspiracy. The senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, was charged as well but granted a separate trial, in July, after her lawyers said she had a serious medical condition that would require surgery and an extended period of recovery. The indictment, which runs 66 pages, outlines a variety of schemes. But perhaps nothing has caught the public eye as much as its descriptions of the cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible found during a June 2022 search of the senator’s home in Edgewood Cliffs, N.J.

Persons: Menendez, Judge Stein, Rosenbaum, Nadine Menendez Organizations: Democrat, Foreign Relations, Benz Locations: New Jersey, Egypt, Qatar, Jersey, Edgewood Cliffs, N.J

☆ This state is one of the last strongholds for machine politics. That's about to change.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At the end of March, a federal judge sided with Kim, blocking Democrats from using the so-called "county line" system in the state's upcoming June primaries. That's set to bring a stark change to the way ballots look — and potentially, a total overhaul in the state's political culture. AdvertisementHere's what to know about the "county line" and why it may be going away for good. A 2020 Democratic primary ballot in Mercer County, New Jersey. "I think you'll see a more candidate-centric politics," said Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, a longtime opponent of the county-line system.

Persons: —, Andy Kim, Kim, That's, Kim et, Hanlon, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Hanlon et al, Bob Menendez's, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Spencer Platt, Tammy Murphy, Phil Murphy, Zahid Quraishi, Tom Williams, Murphy, Rob Menendez —, Ravi Bhalla, James Solomon, They've, they've Organizations: Democratic, Service, Garden State, New York City, Getty, Democratic Gov, Jersey City Locations: New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, Salem, Sussex, Mercer County , New Jersey, Hanlon et, New York, Hoboken, Jersey

☆ Nobody Saw Andy Kim Coming. That’s What He Was Counting On.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Christopher Maag | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A day later, Andy Kim, a little-known Democratic congressman from southern New Jersey, gathered his top advisers for a conference call. Everyone present assumed that Mr. Kim would announce his intention to challenge Mr. Menendez for his Senate seat. And Mr. Kim would need the blessing of political bosses across the state, an especially urgent task in New Jersey, where local party leaders have held enormous sway over primary elections for generations. “You don’t upset a two-term incumbent by flying by the seat of your pants,” Mr. Carroll said. Mr. Kim listened quietly.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Andy Kim, Kim, Menendez, Zack Carroll, Kim’s, Mr, Carroll Organizations: Benz, Congress Locations: New Jersey

☆ Stacks of Cash at Menendez Home Were Not From His Bank, Prosecutors Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Tracey Tully | Benjamin Weiser | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When Senator Robert Menendez was charged last year with corruption after investigators found $486,000 in cash stashed around his house in New Jersey, he offered a simple, “old-fashioned” explanation: It had been his custom to withdraw cash from a personal savings account to keep at home, a habit he learned from his Cuban immigrant parents. But federal prosecutors, in papers filed late Friday, presented fresh details that they suggested undercut Mr. Menendez’s claim. Some of the cash was wrapped in bands showing it had been withdrawn, at least $10,000 at a time, from a bank where Mr. Menendez and his wife “had no known depository account.” This, prosecutors said, indicated “that the money had been provided to them by another person.”

Persons: Robert Menendez, Menendez’s, Menendez, “, ” Locations: New Jersey

☆ Sen. Bob Menendez's trial to proceed without his wife due to her health issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jonathan Dienst | Dareh Gregorian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Senator Bob Menendez (center right), Democrat of New Jersey, leaves with his wife Nadine Menendez the Manhattan Federal Court, in New York City following his arraignment on March 11, 2024. Sen. Bob Menendez's criminal trial will continue as scheduled on May 6 — but without the New Jersey Democrat's wife and co-defendant Nadine Menendez. Nadine Menendez had requested the postponement earlier this week, and prosecutors said they were fine delaying the trial until the summer. Lawyers for Nadine Menendez argued in a separate motion that a joint trial would "undoubtedly prejudice Ms. Menendez's right to defend herself." In addition to health concerns, Stein said Nadine Menendez needs new attorneys because her current lawyers could end up being called as witnesses related to an obstruction count against her.

Persons: Bob Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Sen, Bob Menendez's, Sidney Stein, Nadine Menendez's, Menendez, Adam Fee, Menendezes, Nadine, Menendez's, —, Stein, Mercedes, Prosecutors Organizations: Manhattan Federal Court, Prosecutors, NBC News Locations: New Jersey, New York City, Jersey, New York, U.S

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