Top US Democrat and Senator Bob Menendez and his wife are accused of bribery.
The investigation may affect Sweden’s NATO process, as Menendez is regarded as a piece of the puzzle in the US’s negotiations with Turkey.
– Among other things, Menendez allegedly delivered sensitive, non-public, US government information to Egypt, says the federal prosecutor.
One of the top leaders of the US Democratic Party, Bob Menendez, has been charged with bribery by a federal prosecutor in New York.
Menendez is a senator from New Jersey and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The federal prosecutor’s theory is that Menendez was bribed to further the interests of the Egyptian government. It is the second time that the top Democrat has been suspected of bribery during his political career.
– Among other things, Menendez allegedly delivered sensitive, non-public US government information to Egyptian officials and took steps to secretly assist the Egyptian government, says the federal prosecutor in New York, Damian Williams.
– The indictment alleges that Senator Menendez used his power and influence, including his leadership position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to benefit the Egyptian government in various ways.
According to the accusations, the senator has received, among other things, the equivalent of several million kroner in cash and gold bars, and a luxury car. During a search of the couple’s home, gold bars with a value equivalent to just over 1.1 million kroner and over five million in cash were found.
– It is a very heavy name within the Democrats. He has been a senator since 2006. Although he has not yet been sentenced, it has already done enormous political damage, says TV4 Nyhetern’s foreign reporter, Tomas Kvarnkullen.
May have affected Sweden’s NATO application
Menendez has also been a strong opponent of Turkey’s ability to buy American F-16 planes, something that is considered a piece of the puzzle for Sweden to be welcomed into NATO by the Turks.
The case against Menendez may also affect the US’s decision regarding the sale of the F-16 plane to Turkey.
– It has long been seen that if Turkey gets what it wants from the US, it will also facilitate the Swedish NATO process, says Tomas Kvarnkullen.
Menendez is stepping down “temporarily” from his post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced after the allegations were made public. But Menendez has so far not announced that he intends to leave his duties.