Menendez calls evidence of criminality 'saving': Press
United States Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey responded to the bribery allegations. Menendez said that he believes he will be acquitted against the criminal evidence put forward by prosecutors and challenged. He added that he has withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies.
Democrat New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, known for his anti-Türkiye rhetoric in the United States (US) Congress, held a press conference in New Jersey. It is reported that this will be his first public appearance since his last indictment.
Menendez, anti-Turkish, responded to the bribery allegations. He said he believes he will be acquitted against the criminal evidence put forward by prosecutors and challenged. He called the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash found in his home 'savings'.
Under pressure from his colleagues in the Democratic Party and the Senate to resign, he challenged prosecutors and the law and,
“For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies, and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba,” said Menendez.
“Now this may seem old fashioned, but these were monies drawn from my personal savings account based on the income that I have lawfully derived over those 30 years,” he added.
Menendez has been charged with three alleged crimes, including being on the receiving end of a bribery conspiracy. The conspiracy counts also charge his Armenian wife Nadine Arslanian and three people described as New Jersey associates and businessmen. The group is accused of coordinating to use Menendez’s power as a US senatorto benefit them personally and to benefit Egypt.
According to the indictment, searches of Menendez’s home and safe deposit box that federal agents conducted in 2022 turned up nearly 500 thousand dollars in cash and gold bars, including in envelopes inside jackets emblazoned with Menendez’s name. Prosecutors say some of the envelopes had the fingerprints or DNA of one of the business contacts from whom the senator is accused of taking bribes.
Democrat New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez speaks at the press conference after rumours in New Jersey
It is rumoured that Menendez may have transferred his unregistered money to Egypt. Menendez defended his position on Egypt in a press conference.
“If you look at my actions related to Egypt during the period described in this indictment, and throughout my whole career, my record is clear and consistent in holding Egypt accountable for its unjust detention of American citizens and others, its human rights abuses, its deepening relationship with Russia, and efforts that have eroded the independence of the nation’s judiciary, among a myriad of concerns,” Menendez emphasized.
CALLED TO RESIGN
The governor of New Jersey and leading Democrats called on Menendezi to resign.
“Senator Menendez has broken the public trust and should resign from the U.S. Senate,” said Brown, who is running for reelection next year.
BOB MENENDEZ NET WORTH
Bob Menendez's political journey, though marked by a modest net worth of 600 thousand dollars, has faced repeated corruption allegations. Menendez is defending his innocence against a three-count indictment for gold bars, cash and mortgage assistance, and promises to fight the charges. The fortunes of his wife Nadine Arslanian, daughter Alicia Menendez and son Robert Menendez are unknown.
Source: Newsroom
