Businessman of Egyptian Origin Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charges Against Menendez

A businessman from New Jersey pleaded not guilty today, Tuesday, to charges of bribing U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. Wael Hana, 40 years old, submitted his plea during a hearing before Judge Una Wang in federal court in Manhattan. Menendez, 69, and his wife Nadine Menendez, 56, along with two other businessmen accused of bribing the prominent senator from New Jersey, are scheduled to be called as witnesses tomorrow, Wednesday. Prosecutors say Hana, of Egyptian origin, arranged meetings in 2018 between Menendez and Egyptian officials, who pressured the senator to endorse military aid that had been withheld by Washington due to concerns regarding the country’s human rights record. Menendez serves as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but temporarily stepped down shortly after being indicted. Prosecutors added that in return, Hana placed Menendez's wife on the payroll of his company, which holds the exclusive right to certify halal meat shipped from the U.S. to Egypt. Menendez and his wife deny any wrongdoing and the senator rejects calls from his fellow Democrats to resign.