What do the gold bars in the senator's house mean: Who is Bob Menendez?

In the 39-page indictment submitted to the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian were accused of engaging in bribery in their relationships with New Jersey business people.

Federal prosecutors announced that they seized two gold bars worth $100,000 and $480,000 in hidden cash during searches at Menendez's home, as part of an investigation that lasted more than a year.

The indictment also stated that Menendez, using his senatorial position, was involved in corruption activities such as illegal home mortgage payments, irregular work compensation, and the acquisition of a luxury vehicle, in addition to gold and cash.

Robert Menendez (born January 1, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2006. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Jon Corzine, and chaired the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015, and again from 2021 to 2023.

With the indictment, New Jersey's Democratic Senator Menendez was accused of corruption for the second time in 10 years.

According to the Senate Historical Office, 69-year-old Menendez was recorded as the first senator in US history to be accused of two separate crimes.

Menendez, who has served as a New Jersey Senator since 2006, is expected to run for Congress again from the Democratic Party in the 2024 US Presidential Election.

In his written statement regarding the accusation of "taking bribes", Menendez argued that "the forces behind the scenes" have been trying to silence him and "politically dig his grave" for years.

Blaming the prosecutors who filed charges against him, Menendez claimed that a "smear campaign" was being carried out against him.

He was previously accused of bribery and corruption

New Jersey state Senator Menendez was being investigated by investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for accepting bribes from real estate mogul and former bank executive Fred Daibes, who is on trial for banking crimes, in exchange for using his connections at the Department of Justice.

It was stated that Menendez accepted bribes in the form of gold bullion, cash, and luxury gifts from his home through his wife Nadine Arslanian.

It was also noted that among the investigations carried out against the senator, he received a bribe in return for winning the tender from the Egypt-based startup company "IS EG Halal", which undertakes the halal certification in the USA, despite having no experience in the sector.

While the contracts of many companies were suddenly canceled in 2019, IS EG's special contract with Egypt to obtain worldwide halal meat certification aroused suspicion.

With the public discussion of the tender, it was revealed that the owners of IS EG and Menendez's wife were friends, and it brought about discussions that Menendez's position as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which approves millions of military aid to Egypt every year, was effective in the conclusion of the relevant contract.

In 2015, the US senator was also accused of accepting gifts worth more than 600 thousand dollars from a Florida ophthalmologist, including travel by private jet and a 3-day stay in a 5-star hotel in Paris.

While the trial on the 2015 accusation was ongoing, prosecutors dropped the case in November 2017 after the jury deadlocked due to accusations such as bribery, fraud, and conspiracy, and the judge rejected some charges.

Known for his anti-Türkiye sentiment

Bob Menendez, the son of an immigrant family of Cuban origin, is known for his anti-Turkey sentiment and closeness to the Greek and Armenian lobbies in the US Congress.

Menendez, who made a name for himself as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has a say in Congress on military aid to foreign countries, and for his opposition to the sale of F-16s to Turkey by the USA, also expressed his discomfort with Turkey's policies in the Mediterranean and Aegean. brings it up.

On August 25, Menendez was awarded the Apostle Barnabas Gold Medal by the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus for his contribution to the struggles of the Greeks and his services to "Hellenism".

Who is Bob Menendez?

Born in Union City, New York, on January 1, 1954, Bob Menendez started his education at Hudson County Community College and Rutgers University.

Menendez's political career began by serving in the New Jersey General Assembly and was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Menendez, who served in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2006, made the voice of the people of New Jersey heard in Washington.

Bob Menendez, who was elected to the US Senate in 2006, worked on many important issues such as foreign relations, energy, health, and economy and served on various committees. Also known for his expertise in Latin American politics, Menendez has contributed effectively to America's international relations.

It is known that Bob Menendez has been active on important issues such as immigrant rights, healthcare, and the environment throughout his political career. Menendez, an influential figure under the umbrella of the Democratic Party, represented the state of New Jersey in the US Senate and approached the problems of his people with a solution-oriented approach.