NEW YORK (AP) — A New Jersey businessman who pleaded guilty in the bribery case against Sen. Bob Menendez began testifying Friday as a key witness in the month-old Manhattan trial, telling a jury that another businessman mentioned the Democrat and his wife in 2018 when he told him he would make his legal troubles go away in exchange for $200,000 to $250,000.
Jose Uribe began testifying in Manhattan federal court, where he provided key testimony against Menendez and two other businessmen who were charged with conspiracy along with Menendez’s wife.
Uribe, 57, was the government’s star witness in its effort to secure a conviction against the senator, who once held the powerful post of chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was forced to leave his position after charges were filed against him last fall.
Menendez, 70, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted gold bars, cash and a luxury car in exchange for providing favors to the businessmen. The other businessmen and Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, have also pleaded not guilty. Nadine Menendez’s trial has been postponed until at least July after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Uribe testified that he was close friends with Wael Hana, who is on trial with Menendez, when Hana told him in early 2018 that New Jersey’s criminal investigations surrounding his friend’s trucking company and his own insurance company could be largely dropped. to rest if he was willing to spend $200,000 to $250,000.
Uribe said Hana told him he would go to Nadine Menendez and then “Nadine would go to Senator Menendez,” although Uribe did not immediately testify specifically about what role the pair might play in resolving multiple investigations.
Uribe, of Clifton, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in March, saying during his plea that he gave Nadine Menendez a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for her husband “using his power and influence as a United States senator to to achieve a favorable outcome and to put an end to all investigations relating to any of my employees.”
As part of the plea deal, Uribe agreed to forfeit $246,000, representing proceeds traceable to his crimes.
Uribe remains free on a $1 million bond, which was set when he was arrested.
Uribe was accused of buying the luxury car for Nadine Menendez after her previous car was destroyed when she killed a man crossing the street. She was not criminally charged in connection with that accident.
Menendez is also accused of helping another New Jersey business associate strike a lucrative deal with the Egyptian government. Prosecutors allege that in exchange for bribes, Menendez did things that benefited Egypt, including writing a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift the freeze on $300 million in aid.
Menendez has also been accused of using his international influence to help a friend secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund, including by taking actions favorable to the Qatari government.
