New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe testified on Friday that he bribed Sen. Bob Menendez in order to derail the prosecution of an associate and to protect himself and his loved ones from being implicated in a related investigation. Prosecutors in Menendez’s corruption trial are trying to unravel a complex scheme involving cash, gold bars, and luxury gifts in exchange for Menendez’s influence. Uribe, who pleaded guilty in March and is cooperating with the government, identified Menendez as the person he bribed and revealed that it involved giving Menendez’s wife Nadine a Mercedes-Benz C300 convertible.
Menendez and others, including businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, are accused of engaging in bribery schemes and acting as foreign agents for the Egyptian and Qatari governments. Uribe’s testimony connected the Mercedes bribe back to the Menendezes and provided insight into Hana’s relationship with the couple. However, it is not expected to shed more light on other alleged bribery schemes between Menendez and Hana. Uribe detailed meetings and exchanges, including text messages, that connected a web of characters who had previously appeared to operate independently.
Uribe described a pivotal conversation with Hana outside a lawyer’s office where Hana offered to make investigations disappear for a fee. Despite their close relationship, Uribe eventually realized that Hana was unable to deliver on his promises, leading Uribe to reach out to Nadine Menendez directly to negotiate a deal. Following a fundraising event organized by Uribe for Menendez’s reelection campaign, Uribe believed that the arrangement was successful and his legal troubles were resolved. However, as investigators continued to probe into his business and associates, the relationship soured, and the promises made by Hana and Menendez did not materialize.
After failed attempts to further the arrangement through Hana and a frustrating lunch with him and the Menendezes, Uribe decided to contact Nadine directly. In a phone call, Nadine expressed dissatisfaction with Hana’s unfulfilled promises and agreed to a deal similar to Uribe’s original agreement with Hana, but this time in exchange for a new Mercedes. Uribe, who is awaiting sentencing, left the courtroom without acknowledging the defendants. The trial will resume on Monday. Menendez, who appeared despondent as the proceedings ended, left for the weekend.
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