Menendez accused of acting as foreign agent to Egyptian government in superseding indictment
by Ella Lee - 10/12/23 12:35 PM ET
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) faces a new charge of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt, less than a month after the New Jersey Democrat was hit with federal charges of accepting luxurious bribes in exchange for his political influence.
Menendez is accused of conspiring with his wife, Nadine Arslanian, and New Jersey businessman Wael “Will” Hana to act as an agent of the Egyptian government between January 2018 and June 2022, according to a superseding indictment filed Thursday.
“Among other actions, Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt,” the indictment reads.
As a member of Congress, Menendez is prohibited by law from agreeing to be or acting as a foreign agent — even as registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law requiring any person acting in the U.S. as an “agent of a foreign principal” to register with the U.S. attorney general.
The law is meant to prevent covert influence by other countries. Neither Menendez’ wife nor Hana were registered under the act, the indictment says.
Between 2020 and 2022, Menendez allegedly made multiple requests for the Justice Department to investigate others for failing to register under FARA, including an unnamed ex-member of Congress.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4252365-menendez-foreign-agent-egyptian-government-superseding-indictment/
