(USNewsMag.com) – After being indicted on three counts of bribery on Sept. 22, New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has hired Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell.
The indictment alleges Menendez, along with his wife, Nadine Menendez, “engaged in a corrupt relationship” with three New Jersey businessmen, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, and Wael Hana, from 2018 through 2022. The alleged bribes included gold bars, cash, home mortgage payments, and a luxury vehicle in exchange for the influence of Menendez “to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt” as well as to “protect and enrich” the businessmen.
If convicted on all charges, Menendez and his wife face 45 years in prison.
Lowell is currently defending Hunter Biden, who was charged with three federal gun charges in relation to his 2018 purchase of a firearm. During the FBI’s Russia investigation, Lowell represented Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, her husband. In 2022, Lowell won an acquittal for Matthew Grimes, an employee of Tom Barrack’s who was charged with unlawfully acting as a foreign agent.
In 2015, Menendez hired Lowell to represent him when he was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and honest services fraud in relation to alleged personal favors from his longtime friend, a wealthy Florida eye doctor. The trial ended in 2017 in a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked. He was acquitted of some of the charges before the Department of Justice dropped the remaining charges in 2018.
Menendez resigned “temporarily” as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Senate Democratic Caucus rules state that he is still able to serve on the panel.
The new charges have resulted in some Democrats calling for Menendez to resign, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. However, Menendez has stated he would not resign. He has served in the Senate since 2006 and is up for reelection in 2024.
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