SDNY points new subpoenas in Bob Menendez case as investigation expands

A federal grand jury issued a brand new spherical of subpoenas regarding the felony investigation into Senate Overseas Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) this week, an indication the inquiry is widening.

Menendez has been underneath investigation for months concerning his and his spouse's relationship with the house owners of IS EG Halal, a halal meat enterprise based mostly in Edgewater, New Jersey. Investigators have been probing whether or not the couple improperly accepted money and different items from the enterprise house owners, in addition to how the corporate secured an unique contract with the federal government of Egypt to certify halal exports. These latest subpoenas seem like for unrelated events, nevertheless, suggesting the investigation is increasing.

GLENN YOUNGKIN HINTS AT FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL RUN: 'IF WE CAN DO IT IN VIRGINIA, WE CAN DO IT ANYWHERE'

These subpoenaed by the Southern District of New York on Wednesday embrace longtime North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, whose workplace stated in an announcement that he plans to cooperate. A supply near the inquiry advised NBC News that Sacco's subpoena seeks details about legislative adjustments in New Jersey.

“As they at all times have, Mayor Sacco and the Township of North Bergen will adjust to any inquiry they obtain from legislation enforcement and can cooperate absolutely," a spokesman for the mayor stated. "We don't really feel that it might be applicable to supply any extra remark presently."

A consultant for Menendez, who has denied any wrongdoing, declined to remark to the Washington Examiner on the allegations.

The New Jersey senator is not any stranger to authorized struggles. He was indicted in 2015 on federal corruption fees of illegally accepting items from a Florida ophthalmologist in change for political favors. The case resulted in a mistrial after jurors failed to achieve a unanimous verdict, and the Justice Division in the end determined towards retrying him.

SDNY prosecutors concerned within the present investigation reportedly started contacting folks near Menendez, who has served within the Senate since 2006 and is up for reelection subsequent yr, in October of final yr. It isn't clear how lengthy earlier than that the inquiry was launched.

Menendez launched a authorized protection fund in April, which a personal spokesman for the senator stated was set as much as forestall utilizing his marketing campaign accounts for attorneys charges. By the point he launched the fund, Menendez had spent greater than $230,000 from his marketing campaign coffers on legal professionals and associated consultants.

"Sen. Menendez is assured that this official inquiry can be efficiently closed, however as it's nonetheless unresolved he can be opening a separate authorized protection fund in order to not drain any additional marketing campaign funds," Michael Soliman, who's dealing with the senator's press for authorized issues, stated on the time.