One of three businessmen involved in a bribery scheme to Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and his wife has been arrested after returning voluntarily from Egypt. Wael Hana, a New Jersey resident originally from Egypt, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Prosecutors allege that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes in exchange for using the Senator’s power and influence to benefit Hana and the other businessmen, as well as the Egyptian government. Hana’s attorney expressed confidence in his client’s innocence and willingness to prove it in court.
The bribes that Menendez and his wife allegedly received included cash, gold bars, mortgage payments, and compensation. Federal agents found over $480,000 in cash during a search of their home in June 2022. It was revealed that Hana hired Nadine Menendez, the Senator’s wife, at his company for a “low-or-no-show” position in exchange for the Senator facilitating foreign military sales and financing to Egypt. Menendez also intervened in 2019 to protect a monopoly for Hana’s company, resulting in increased costs for U.S. meat suppliers. Despite calls from nearly two dozen Senate Democrats for Menendez to step down, he has rejected them and maintained that he will be exonerated.
If convicted, Hana could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for bribery and 20 years in prison for fraud. His arrest comes as part of an ongoing investigation into the bribery scheme involving Senator Menendez and his wife.
