The FBI is conducting a counterintelligence investigation into whether Egypt’s intelligence services were involved in a bribery scheme described in the indictment of Senator Bob Menendez and his wife. This investigation is separate from the federal corruption case that accuses Menendez of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez had oversight over U.S. aid to Egypt. The FBI is specifically looking into whether Egyptian intelligence officials or their associates attempted to gain access to Menendez through his wife, Nadine.
The indictment, which was unsealed last week, alleges that Menendez accepted lavish bribes to benefit the Egyptian government and enrich a group of Egyptian American businessmen. These businessmen, named as co-defendants, are accused of providing bribes such as gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible worth over $60,000. Two of the co-defendants, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, are scheduled to be arraigned along with Menendez and his wife. Another co-defendant, Wael Hana, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Hana’s lawyer denied any ties to Egyptian intelligence and stated that Hana and Nadine Menendez have been friends for years.
The investigation into whether Egyptian intelligence services were involved in the bribery scheme is significant due to Menendez’s position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to Frank Figliuzzi, an NBC News security analyst and former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, Menendez was in a vulnerable position for foreign intelligence services seeking to influence his decisions on funding military equipment and materiel. Menendez has denied all charges and has resisted calls to resign. The Egyptian Embassy has not yet provided a comment on the matter.