WASHINGTON D.C. — In a bribery trial involving Senator Bob Menendez, a senior Senate staffer testified Monday about unusual circumstances surrounding the planning of Menendez’s 2021 trip to Egypt and Qatar. Sarah Arkin, a senior staffer with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the planning process as “weird” after Menendez insisted on including Egypt in the trip.
Allegations Against Menendez
Menendez, who served as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee until his indictment last fall, faces charges of bribery, fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. The charges stem from allegations that he accepted bribes in the form of gold and cash totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors. These alleged favors included:
- Improperly pressuring a Department of Agriculture official to protect a halal certification monopoly granted by Egypt to one businessman.
- Assisting a New Jersey real estate developer by acting favorably toward Qatar’s government to facilitate a lucrative deal with a Qatari investment fund.
Menendez and the businessmen involved have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial, which is in its seventh week, has also seen one of the businessmen testify against Menendez.
Testimony on Trip Planning
During her testimony, Arkin revealed that Menendez directed Senate staff to coordinate the trip with an unknown individual at the Egyptian embassy. Typically, such trips are planned through the State Department and U.S. authorities, making this request highly unusual.
Arkin stated that it was uncommon for a U.S. senator’s trip to be planned in conjunction with a foreign embassy, even though embassies are usually informed of U.S. legislators’ travel plans.
Unusual Requests and Complaints
Arkin testified that Menendez was “very upset” after learning that two Egyptian officials, including the ambassador, complained about Arkin informing them that Menendez would not meet with Egypt’s president during the trip “under any circumstances.” She denied making such a statement and asserted she would never use such stern language. Arkin described the planning process as “weird” and reiterated that she “would not have phrased anything that way.”
Arkin also mentioned that Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, who faces related charges but has had her trial postponed due to breast cancer surgery, was actively involved in the trip planning and had “lots of opinions” about the itinerary.
Menendez’s Response
Leaving the courthouse on Monday, Menendez claimed that Arkin could have attended the trip if she wanted, suggesting that she “chose not to go.”
The testimony and allegations paint a picture of unusual and possibly improper conduct in the planning of an official trip, contributing to the broader case against Menendez and his alleged misuse of his office for personal gain.
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