Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) is underneath investigation by the Division of Justice for costly items he allegedly acquired from a New Jersey enterprise.
The items embody a luxurious Washington, D.C., house, a Mercedes-Benz, cash, and jewellery, all valued within the tens of hundreds of {dollars}, sources informed NBC New York. The DOJ suspects that the items got to Menendez by the Edgewater enterprise IS EG Halal, which was granted a contract with the Egyptian authorities regardless of complaints that the enterprise did not have the correct expertise. The New Jersey Democrat serves because the Senate International Relations Committee chairman and oversees billions in support to the Egyptian authorities.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) converse to reporters on the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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“I’m positive it will find yourself in completely nothing,” Menendez stated of the allegations final week.
Nonetheless, some suspect that the contract was granted by Menendez in a quid professional quo scheme. Damian Williams, U.S. legal professional for the Southern District of New York, AND FBI and IRS Prison Investigation brokers are engaged on the investigation.
Not one of the objects seem on Menendez’s Senate disclosure kinds. A separate IRS legal investigation is underway to find out if the items had been correctly accounted for in tax filings.
IS EG Halal was awarded a halal meat certification contract with the Egyptian authorities in 2019 — seven corporations across the globe had been concurrently fired from the function. The Edgewater agency is run by a Christian and appeared to don’t have any prior expertise in Islamic halal certification, resulting in suspicion from many.
“It defies logic,” stated Peter Paradis, the previous deputy assistant inspector basic on the Division of Agriculture. “This company has no monitor document of doing most of these certifications — and but the nation in query earmarks them as the only entity to carry out that job?”
IS EG Halal claimed innocence, denying any wrongdoing.
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“Allegations about automobiles, residences, money, and jewellery being offered by anybody related to IS EG Halal to Sen. Menendez or his spouse in any respect, not to mention in alternate for any form of favorable remedy, are completely with out foundation,” stated Wael Hana, a spokesman for IS EG Halal.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Menendez for remark.