A Senate staffer testified at a bribery trial that planning for Sen. Bob Menendez’s 2021 trip to Egypt and Qatar got “weird” after the Democrat directed that Egypt be included in the process. Sarah Arkin, a senior staffer with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, testified as a government witness at a trial over bribes allegedly paid to the senator in return for benefits delivered to three New Jersey businessmen. Menendez is charged with bribery, fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.
Menendez and two businessmen who allegedly paid him bribes have pleaded not guilty to the charges. In her testimony, Arkin said Menendez had asked Senate staff to reach out to an individual at the Egyptian embassy as they planned the trip, which was unusual as such excursions were typically planned through the State Department. She mentioned that Menendez was upset after being told that two Egyptians had complained that she had notified Egyptian officials that he would not meet with Egypt’s president during the trip. Arkin stated that she would never use stern language such as “under no circumstances” and that the claim was untrue.
Another Senate staffer mentioned that “all of this Egypt stuff is very weird” in reference to the trip planning. Arkin stated that she would not phrase anything that way and mentioned that Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, was involved in the planning and had many opinions about the trip. Nadine Menendez has also pleaded not guilty in the case, but her trial has been postponed due to breast cancer surgery. Menendez stated that Arkin could have gone on the trip if she wanted but chose not to.
Menendez allegedly carried out favors for the businessmen, including pressuring a Department of Agriculture official to protect a halal certification monopoly awarded to one businessman by the Egyptian government. He also allegedly aided a New Jersey real estate developer by acting favorably to Qatar’s government, allowing the businessman to secure a lucrative deal with a Qatari investment fund. The trial has entered its seventh week, with Menendez relinquishing his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being charged last fall.
The trial proceedings have shed light on the unusual circumstances surrounding Menendez’s trip planning and the involvement of a foreign embassy in the process. Menendez is facing serious charges of bribery, fraud, extortion, and obstruction of justice, in addition to acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. Arkin’s testimony highlighted the discontent within the planning process and the conflicting accounts of interactions with Egyptian officials. The involvement of Menendez’s wife in the planning process was also mentioned, indicating a level of personal involvement in the trip arrangements. Nadine Menendez’s trial has been postponed due to health reasons.
