According to Sen. Menendez, this is what now represents the normal work of a Congressional office.
The indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez on Friday accuses one of the most powerful senators shaping American foreign affairs of using his perch to enrich himself and exploit the complicated relationship between the United States and Egypt.
It is a story about guns, money and power that strikes at a fraught sector of American diplomacy.
Menendez denies any wrongdoing, saying prosecutors “misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office” and attacked him and his wife. But if the allegations are proven, they will represent a damning account of how American policy toward an autocratic ally was compromised for years for venal reasons.
Egypt receives about $1.3 billion per year in foreign military financing, but by law, tranches of the aid are conditioned upon Egypt’s progress on human rights concerns, as determined by the State Department. Whether Foggy Bottom clears the aid is often subject to a regular tug-of-war between lawmakers, the advocacy community and the executive branch.
Traditionally, the State Department has honored requests to delay grants and weapons sales from the chair or the ranking member of the Senate committee.
By Joe Gould and Eric Bazail-Eimil
