Menendez claims he’s being charged because he’s a ‘Latino American’

By Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Published: 16:26 EDT, 22 September 2023 | Updated: 16:27 EDT, 22 September 2023

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez on Friday denied the corruption charges against him and claimed he is being ‘falsely accused’ because he is a ‘Latin American’ who rose from a humble childhood to the United States Senate.

Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian Menendez have been indicted by a federal grand jury over corruption allegations in an investigation that focused on a luxury car, $400,000 in gold bars and cash, plus payments toward a home mortgage allegedly received by the couple.

The four-term senator, the son of Cuban immigrants, denied the charges and refused to resign.

‘Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first generation Latin American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. senator,’ he said in a statement.

Menendez said prosecutors in the Southern District of New York ‘misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office.’ 

‘I have been falsely accused before because I refused to back down to the powers that be and the people of New Jersey were able to see through the smoke and mirrors and recognize I was innocent,’ he said.

He added he would not be ‘distracted by baseless allegations’ but continue his work as senator.

The indictment claims the couple had an improper relationship with three New Jersey businessmen: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, who allegedly paid the couple in exchange for Menendez to use his influence in Washington D.C. to their benefit.

The couple face three criminal counts each: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. The three businessmen face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.

The indictment also charges the senator with providing ‘sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.’ 

David Schertler, a lawyer for Nadine Menendez, said she ‘denies any criminal conduct and will vigorously contest these charges in court.’ 

Menendez also defended his wife of three years.

‘Not content with making false statements against me, they have attacked my wife for longstanding friendships she had before she and I ever met,’ he said in his statement.

The senator also pointed out he has faced and defeated corruption charges before.

‘They wrote these charges as they wanted; the facts are not as presented. Prosecutors did that last time and look what a trial demonstrates. People should remember that and not accept the prosecutor’s version.’ 

This is the second time Menendez faces a corruption charge. A 2015 case ended in mistrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict on all counts and a judge acquitted him on some charges. 

The first time Menendez was indicted, he had been accused of using his influence to help a Florida eye doctor who gave him gifts and campaign contributions. 

Menendez was accused of pressuring government officials to resolve a Medicare billing dispute in favor of Dr. Salomon Melgen and securing visas for the doctor’s girlfriends.

He said he was innocent. His lawyers said campaign contributions and gifts from Melgen — which included trips on his private jet to a resort in the Dominican Republic and a vacation in Paris — were tokens of their longtime friendship, not bribes.

Prosecutors dropped the charges after the mistrial.  

Menendez is running for re-election for his New Jersey Senate seat and already facing at least one Democratic challenger in the primary.

If Menendez were to step down before the end of his term, New Jersey’s Democratic governor, Philip Murphy, would appoint a successor.

Menendez has held public office continuously since 1986, when he was elected mayor of Union City, New Jersey. He was a state legislator and spent 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2006, Gov. Jon Corzine appointed Menendez to the Senate seat he vacated when he became governor. 

The new indictment outlines a series of texts, payments and actions the couple allegedly took to help the three businessmen, actions from which they financially benefited.

The probe listed several ‘bribes’ paid to them. ‘Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,’ the indictment said.

A June 2022 raid on their New Jersey home found ‘over $480,000 in cash – much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe,’ the indictment notes, adding Nadine had over $70,000 in a safe deposit box. 

It also found two one-kilogram gold bars and eleven one-ounce gold bars.

Damian Williams, attorney with Southern District of New York, outlined the charges and supporting evidence during a press conference Friday morning, saying the couple used Menendez’s ‘power and influence to protect and enrich the businessmen and benefit the government of Egypt.’

He notes investigators ‘executed a search warrant and discovered over $500,000 worth of cash stuffed into envelopes and the senator’s jackets.’

‘That is not all. Agents discovered a lot of gold,’ he added.

The indictment alleges that Menendez tried to disrupt a federal criminal prosecution of Fred Daibes in exchange for the money and other items of value. Daibes is an old friend of Menendez, has fundraised for his Senate campaign, and allegedly has ties to the Genovese mob family.

The indictment charges Menendez ‘promised to and did use his influence and power’ to pressure President Joe Biden to nominate a U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who Menendez ‘believed could be influenced by Menendez with respect to the federal criminal prosecution of Fred Daibes.’

Menendez recommended and Biden later nominated Phillip Sellinger as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, the top federal prosecutor in the state. 

Daibes has been under investigation before. New Jersey authorities have tracked high-ranking mobsters meeting with Daibes repeatedly over the last decade, the Daily Beast reported. 

Daibes provided the couple with gold bars and envelopes of cash, the indictment states. 

‘Multiple gold bars provided by Daibes were found during the court-authorized June 2022 search; of the couple’s home, the indictment states. It also says the senator performed a web search for ‘how much is one kilo of gold worth’ and that the envelopes of cash had the fingerprints of Daibes and his driver. 

The investigation also focused on 40-year-old New Jersey businessman, Wael Hana, who has known Nadine since before she started dating Menendez.

Hana, who is originally from Egypt, operated the company IS EG Halal in New Jersey and it soon became the sole entity authorized to certify that any halal food product imported into Egypt from anywhere in the world had been prepared according to Islamic law. 

According to the indictment, Menendez ‘improperly advised and pressured an official at the United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose of protecting a business monopoly granted to Hana by Egypt and used in part to fund the bribes being paid to Menendez through Nadine Menendez.’ 

The designation of IS EG Halal surprised U.S. agriculture officials. Previously, several other companies had been doing that certification, but they were dismissed by Egyptian agriculture officials in favor of IS EG Halal, which had no previous experience in the field.

The indictment charges Menendez with using the power of his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to influence the State Department regarding policy in Egypt and with sending Nadine ‘highly sensitive’ about Egypt that he got in Senate briefings that she, in turn, gave to Hana.

As a senator, Menendez could put a ‘hold’ on State Department funding to the country. 

In a text to his wife, Menendez tells her: ‘I am going to sign off this sale to Egypt today. Egypt: 46,000 120MM Target Practice Rounds and 10,000 Rounds Tank Ammunition: $99 million.’

Nadine then forwarded it to an Egyptian official who replies with the thumbs up emoji.

Egypt has long been a top recipient of U.S. government aid – more than $1 billion a year – but relations between Washington and Cario have been strained by Eygpt’s human rights violations.

Now that he is indicted, Menendez will have to step down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rules for the Senate Democratic caucus say that any member who is charged with a felony must step aside from a leadership position. 

Hana allegedly promised money to Nadine via a no-show job with his company. And, after months of nonpayment, she complained about not receiving the promised funds. 

The indictment includes a text from Nadine to a friend: ‘I have been so upset all morning. [Hana] left for Egypt yesterday supposedly and now thinks he’s king of the world and has both countries wrapped around his pinky. I really hope they replace him.’

Records show Arslanian was battling foreclosure on her Bergen County property in 2018. When she and Menendez got engaged, it began a period of financial turnaround for her.

Within weeks of their engagement, she incorporated a business, Strategic International Business Consultants LLC, according to state records. Her foreclosure case was dismissed soon after. The following year, her assets included gold bars valued between $100,000 to $250,000, according to a Senate disclosure form amended by Menendez in March of 2022.

Between April and June of 2022, the couple sold between $200,000 and $400,000 worth of gold bars, while keeping at least $250,000 worth of them. 

Businessman Jose Uribe allegedly bought Menendez and Nadine the luxury vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible worth more than $60,000.

In exchange, Menendez ‘agreed and sought to interfere in a New Jersey state criminal prosecution of an associate of Uribe,’ the indictment states. 

Uribe provided Nadine Menendez with $15,000 in cash for the down payment for the Mrecedes and then paid the monthly payment for her.

After she had possession of the car, Uribe texted  her: ‘are you happy?’ She responded, ‘I will never forget this.’ 

She also texted her husband, after the purchase was complete: ‘Congratulations mon amour de la vie, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes,’ with a heart emoji. 

EXCLUSIVE: Five Israelis are charged with gang-raping British tourist in Cyprus

• The group were held after accusations from the woman following a pool party 
• Officers rounded up the men who were on holiday in the resort of Ayia Napa

By Nick Pisa

Published: 09:48 EDT, 18 September 2023 | Updated: 10:46 EDT, 18 September 2023

Pictured: Brit soldier, 28, charged with murder ‘after fatally elbowing businessman while in Canada on military exercise’

• Brett Sheffield, 38, was killed after a late-night altercation at a bar in August
• Craig Gibson, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder

By Paul Farrell For Dailymail.Com and James Callery

Published: 05:35 EDT, 12 September 2023 | Updated: 16:29 EDT, 12 September 2023

Monaco’s French international Ben Yedder is charged with raping two women aged 19 and 20 last month

• Yedder has been placed under judicial supervision and had to pay £776,000 bail, the Nice prosecutor’s office told AFP

By James Callery and Afp

Published: 11:11 EDT, 11 August 2023 | Updated: 04:27 EDT, 12 August 2023

YouTube and Twitch personality Kai Cenat is in police custody after a riot broke out in New York City’s Union Square during an unlicensed scheduled giveaway of Playstation 5s.

The NYPD arrested 65 people, 30 of whom were juveniles, during the Friday afternoon chaos in Manhattan.

Police have said that the influencer will be charged with multiple criminal offences including at least two counts of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly.

Shocking photos and videos show thousands of people gathered, with some fighting and others throwing fire extinguishers at each other in downtown Manhattan. 

At least 12 people have been injured, police told DailyMail.com. Multiple NYPD officers were on the scene trying to disperse the crowd as of 5pm.

The NYPD has warned of mass transit disruptions and traffic delays, they estimated about 2,000 people showed up for the giveaway and Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, warning his own son to stay clear.

Cenat, who is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch and has 5.5 million followers on Instagram, had announced a giveaway on the platform with fellow streamer Fanum scheduled for 4pm.

Shortly before the riot erupted, Cenat, 21, posted an image saying, ‘on the way.’

The city’s official notification system has said to avoid the area, and trains are not stopping at the busy Union Street station.

Several people have been arrested, the initial estimates clocking about 40 people so far.

Numerous people could be seen in hand restraints, sitting on the sidewalks. Police were forming lines in the street, trying to direct the crowd, which periodically broke out in a run. 

The NYPD echoed the statement, tweeting: ‘Due to police activity, avoid the area surrounding Union Square Park & use alternate routes. Expect a police presence in the area and residual traffic delays.’

People were seen throwing objects and tearing at construction barricades.

Some young adults even climbed on top of the roof covering the entrance to the Union Square subway station.

One woman climbed up a traffic light and stood on a sign twerking above the crowds. 

A group let off firecrackers in one section of Union Square Park as arrests were being made, which prompted panic and false rumors that a shooting had occurred. 

Others pounded on the side of a city bus. People could be seen climbing on top of another bus and jumping up and down. 

At least one person was seen setting off a fire extinguisher, and a car was smashed by rioters jumping on the roof and kicking in the windows.

Cenat could be seen emerging from a SUV worming its way through the crowd and directing his followers to a nearby truck with a see-through back that contained boxes labeled PS5. 

Half of the crowd followed the truck, the other half continued to follow the social media star. When the car got to 17th street, it picked up speed and drove away from the scene.

Adams tweeted: ‘Thank you to the NYPD for their quick work getting the situation at Union Square under control today. I want our streets to be alive and full of joy. But they must be safe. That’s the most important thing.’

He went on to add: ‘When I saw what was playing out in Union Square today, I texted my son and asked him if he was there. He replied no. I told him to stay out of the area until we resolved the matter.

‘I thought to myself, I hope all parents or caregivers are able to check in and hear back from their children during the moments like this.’ 

Cops were forced to hold up pieces of plywood and take cover behind cars as people threw objects at them, according to Eyewitness News.

It’s unclear when exactly the crowd turned violent.

‘One cluster of people would let out a yell and start cheering, then another group would do the same, people were swarming over to the group that yelled the loudest just to try and see this influencer. People had little kids with them,’ a witness told DailyMail.com.

Cenat and his friends reacted to the wild scene on a live stream that seemed to show them reveling in the crowd.

‘Look at this!’ Cenat said, as he showed a picture of the crowd to the camera. 

‘They standing like in f*****g unity, bro.’

He added: ‘Everybody for themselves, it’s a war out there man.’ 

A video posted online showed about a dozen people jumping on top of Cenat’s car, before one fell off. 

Cenat had said items such as Gaming PCs, gift cards, Gaming Chairs and other gaming essentials would be given out for free.

Michigan‘s House of Representatives has passed a hate speech bill, known as HB 4474, which criminalizes causing someone to feel threatened by words, including the misusing of their pronouns, with the possibility of a hefty fine or even jail time.

The bill introduces hate crime penalties for causing someone to ‘feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened,’ with ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity or expression’ included as protected classes. 

Offenders could face up to five years in prison for such a felony offense or a $10,000 fine.

It is part of a continues effort by Democrats in the state to advance a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in their first months in power. 

The proposed legislation aims to replace the existing Ethnic Intimidation Act and extends protection against intimidation.

Critics argue that the bill poses a threat to First Amendment rights and lacks clarity in defining ‘harassment’, leaving it open to subjective interpretation. 

The bill reads as follows: ‘Intimidate’ means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.’

If passed, penalties would be based on how the supposed victim and court ‘feel’ about a particular matter. 

What constitutes as being deemed ‘intimidation and harassment’ would be up to the interpretation of the listener and a local prosecutor.

Critics argue that the legislation could infringe on free speech rights and undermine the principles of due process. 

Michigan Democrats have made it a priority to further protect LGBTQ+ people since they took control of all levels of state government this year.

In March, lawmakers codified LGBTQ+ protections into the state’s civil rights law, permanently outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state. 

This new hate speech bill passed in the Democrat-controlled House 59-50 and will now move to the Michigan State Senate (also Democrat controlled) for further consideration.

If approved, it would expected to be signed into law by the Democratic state Governor Gretchen Whitmer.     

Distinguished Professor Emeritus William Wagner, an expert in constitutional law and former federal judge warns that the legislation could be used to silence conservative viewpoints and would oppose the due process required by the Constitution. 

‘Make no mistake about it. Those advocating for this legislation will wield these policies as a weapon capable of destroying conservative expression or viewpoints grounded in the sacred,’ Wagner told The Daily Wire. 

‘One merely needs to look at the scores of cases brought against schools, churches, businesses, and individuals around our country. Proponents use these laws to silence and financially cripple those who dare to adhere to a different viewpoint and oppose their agenda.’ 

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Angela Rigas shared her concerns about the bill targeting conservatives who speak against radical gender ideology. 

‘The state of Michigan is now explicitly allowing the gender delusion issue to be used as a ‘protected class.’ This opens up numerous issues when it comes to the courts and the continued weaponization of the system against conservatives,’ Rigas said.

‘We saw similar concerns when they wanted to pass blocks on ‘conversion’ therapy. It seems Dems want to be in the business of telling people how to think. We are determined to keep choice and opinion a free choice despite those efforts.’ 

Rigas suggested that conservatives would have to rely on the courts to challenge the legislation such is the lack of Republican influence in Michigan’s branches of power. 

‘While my colleagues are introducing great bills to counter the infringements to our freedoms, there is no current way to fix these issues without higher courts becoming involved,’ she explained. 

Earlier this week Michigan lawmakers gave final approval to legislation banning so-called conversion therapy for minors.

The legislation would prohibit mental health professionals from engaging youths in the scientifically discredited practice of trying to convert people who are LGBTQ+ to heterosexuality and traditional gender expectations.

The Michigan Senate approved the ban on a 21-15 vote – with one Republican siding with Democrats – late Tuesday after the state House previously approved the legislation. 

It now awaits final approval by Gov. Whitmer, who has previously called the therapy a ‘dangerous practice.’

Footage emerges of Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown dancing at a Sydney pub as he is charged with allegedly groping a woman at the venue

• Brown charged with sexual touching 
• Follows alleged incident at a Sydney pub 
• Eels star will face court on Wednesday 

By Kristy Williams For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:20 EDT, 3 June 2023 | Updated: 08:15 EDT, 4 June 2023

Man, 26, is charged with murdering woman, 37, after she was found dead at her home

• Fiona Robinson died from ‘multiple injuries’ at her address in Chorley, Lancashire
• Jason Gowen will be at Preston Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on murder charge

By Olivia Jones

Published: 05:17 EDT, 28 May 2023 | Updated: 05:17 EDT, 28 May 2023

A man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was shoved into a moving subway car leaving her with a broken neck and spine. 

Kamal Samrade, 39, of Queens has been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection to the attack on 35-year-old Emine Ozsoy, who was hurled into the train pulling out of Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street station early on Sunday.

Ozsoy is in critical condition after the horrific attack while she was on her way to work after her spine was broken and face slashed to the bone. There is a possibility she might not walk again. 

Suspect Samrade was caught smiling as he was led out of the NYPD Transit Bureau in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon wearing a gray t-shirt and blue Nike shorts. 

Nancy Marrero, 45, of Long Island City, witnessed the attack and said the victim was walking down the subway platform, fixing her hair before she saw a man suddenly grab her head and push it into the side of the departing train.

‘She didn’t even see it coming. With open palms he just mushed her head — not her body — into the train. She just tumbled, just kept spinning because the train kept hitting her,’ Marrero told the New York Post. 

Marrero added: ‘She just kept asking me, “Am I going to die?”‘ 

Today NYC Transit President Richard Davey said: ‘The NYPD acted quickly, using pictures from MTA cameras, to arrest a suspect and start delivering justice to the victim, who is in our thoughts at this terrible time. It’s now up to prosecutors to pursue maximum consequences available under the law.

‘It’s now up to prosecutors to pursue maximum consequences available under the law.’

Marrero told The Post that Ozsoy immediately said she didn’t know her attacker — or what had just transpired following the attack. 

‘I was like, “Do you know him?”‘ Marrero said. 

‘She was like, “I don’t even know what happened.” I said, “A gentleman just shoved your head into the train.”‘

‘She was like, “Oh my God, I don’t — I don’t even… I can’t even remember what happened.”

Ozsoy was on her way to work at the time of the attack.  

‘You could see the white inside, that’s how bad it was,’ the postal worker said of the resulting gash that laced its way down the woman’s bloody face. 

‘She said, “I don’t feel my arms. I feel like they’re broken.”‘

Marrero said the suspect did not appear to be homeless or dirty looking. She says the attack left her traumatized. 

‘When I got home that evening, I was in tears because I just kept seeing her face, seeing how he just mushed her into that train,’ Marrero said.

‘I am so frightened, and my son is frightened for me for when I have to leave in the morning to go to work,’ Marrero said. 

‘Now I keep my back against anything I can. I’m traumatized.’

A GoFundme page for the Turkish immigrant who lives in Jackson Heights described her as a ‘beautiful soul’, and said doctors had initially informed her friends she had a slim chance of recovering movement below the neck.

Shiv Patel, a friend and coworker who had set up the fundraiser for Ozsoy, wrote that she had gone against all odds to start moving her arms in hospital one day after the attack.

Patel’s page – which refers to the victim as Emine Yilmaz – said her medical expenses had already reached a six figure sum.

‘This fund is on behalf of Emine Yilmaz, a kind, beautiful soul who was tragically attacked on the New York City subway on her way to work,’ Patel wrote. 

‘Emine is a source of joy as a friend, colleague, and human being. She’s artistic, lighthearted, witty, and, above all, someone we consider family.

‘Doctors initially informed us she had a slim chance of recovering movement below the neck. In just one day, she challenged that prognosis by moving her arms. It is a huge step, but her road to recovery will be long and challenging. She’s a fighter and is already fighting to recover. She will get there, but she needs everyone’s help.

‘Her medical expenses have already reached six digits, and any donation will be gratefully accepted with an open heart.’ 

Patel continues: ‘If you are unable to make a donation, please consider sharing this link to get the word out, or even keeping Emine in your thoughts.’

The fundraiser has already raised $6,330 raised of $200,000 goal. 

‘No one should have to face such a horrifying tragedy, especially when simply trying to provide for themselves. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all truly for taking the time to read this,’ the post concluded.

Ozsoy fell backward onto the platform after her head was slammed into the train, leaving her with severe spinal injuries and lacerations to her head, authorities said. 

The attacker fled the scene on foot, heading toward the Second Avenue exit after the attack. 

The surveillance photos, released by police Sunday night, show the alleged attacker wearing a black shirt with a white rim, blue jeans and white sneakers. The man appears to be holding a cup of coffee while standing on the platform.

The NYPD claimed on Tuesday that there has been an 8.1 percent reduction in subway crime in 2023 thus far, including a 12.8 percent decrease in felony assaults.

‘With the exception of 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, this marks the third lowest year to the start of the year when it comes to subway crimes in recorded history,’ NYPD Deputy Chief Norman Grandstaff told the MTA board on Monday.

In 2023 so far, there have been three subway push to tracks, according to NYPD statistics. Overall, subway crime is actually down 8 percent this year. 

Earlier this month, a homeless man was killed by a former marine at a Broadway-Lafayette station when a passenger, 30, threateningly entered the subway car. 

The former marine, 24, then put him in a headlock until he was unconscious and died. 

Last summer, a 26-year-old pregnant woman was struck multiple times by man wielding a wrench in Manhattan, leaving victim badly-injured. 

27 people have been violently killed on the subway since March 2020, compared with an average of two a year in the five years before the pandemic began.

The NYPD revealed twenty-five people were shoved onto the subway tracks in New York City in 2022, killing at least two while others narrowly avoided death.

One such attack was that of David Martin, 32, who was walking down the Wyckoff and Myrtle Avenue subway station in Brooklyn when Lamale McRae, 41, randomly charged across the platform and knocked him down into the tracks.

The attack was caught in a terrifying video which showed McRae – a career criminal who had served 20 years in jail for attempted murder – calmly placing his bag down on the subway before launching himself after Martin and then fleeing.

Figures from the New York City Police Department obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that 2022 has had more subway pushings than there were in all of 2021.

Manhattan saw at least six shovings – including both fatalities. The Bronx and Brooklyn saw at least three pushings each, and Queens saw one. 

New York City’s subway crime rose by 30 percent in 2022. Multiple anti-crime initiatives were spurred by the rise in violence on a vital transit network. 

Mayor Eric Adams has increased transit police presence, spending $20 million more per month on overtime costs since January, according to Bloomberg.