Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a Democrat who faces a federal three-count indictment on bribery accusations, has reportedly re-engaged lawyer Abbe Lowell. Lowell had previously represented Menendez during a 2015 corruption trial, which concluded in a mistrial.
Set to appear in a Manhattan federal court this Wednesday, Menendez and his co-defendants, including his wife, are accused of accepting bribes like gold bars, luxury vehicles, and cash from three business figures in New Jersey. Menendez is scheduled to discuss his political future at a news conference in Hudson County, New Jersey, on Monday.
Lowell, who has also been representing Hunter Biden on firearm-related charges, had earlier successfully defended Menendez in 2015. That case involved allegations of unlawful gifts from a Florida eye doctor, but concluded without a verdict, leading to the charges being dismissed. Besides his role with Biden, Lowell has assisted other notable figures, such as Matthew Grimes and Jared Kushner, in legal matters.
Neither Lowell nor Menendez responded to media requests for comments. However, Menendez has publicly stated, “I am not going anywhere,” following his recent indictment. He is charged with misusing his authority as the chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee to assist the Egyptian government and to influence federal prosecutors to dismiss a case against a close acquaintance.
According to prosecutors, a search of Menendez’s residence last year uncovered over $100,000 in gold bars and nearly half a million dollars in cash, much of which was concealed in various places like closets and safes. The indictment also includes photographic evidence of cash hidden in clothing items and a luxury car purportedly given as a bribe.
The indictment alleges that Menendez used his influential position to interfere in legal cases, including efforts to appoint a federal prosecutor in New Jersey whom he believed could be swayed. It also claims that he sought to interfere in another criminal investigation conducted by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Additional charges accuse Menendez of taking actions favorable to Egypt, despite concerns over the country’s human rights record. This reportedly involved drafting a letter to Senate colleagues urging them to release $300 million in aid to Egypt and sharing confidential information with Egyptian authorities through communications with business figures.
Responding to the indictment, Menendez described it as an “active smear campaign” and vowed to fight the charges. David Schertler, who represents Menendez’s wife, Nadine, stated that she “denies any criminal conduct and will vigorously defend against these charges in court.”
