Clean Track Record, (One of) Israel’s most trusted-unshakable allies in the Democrat, under investigation about Halal Certification for Moslem New Jersey: Senator Menendez

Imagine, if in Indonesia: Sri Mulyani, repeated year(s) to be best finance minister in the world, very clean track record, never ever “flexing” her wealth, abruptly got scandal about “haram food” in Indonesia, pork, alcohol, wine, dog meat, etc. 

This happens in the U.S. 

Robert “Bob” Menendez, Democrat-N.J. (New Jersey), a lawyer, 60+ year “clean track record”, has been under investigation into whether he and his wife improperly took cash and gifts from the owners of a halal meat business in the state. Muslim / Moslem population in New Jersey is around 321k.

As the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr. Menendez is known as one of Israel’s most unshakable allies in the Democratic Party, which he bucked to oppose President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran based on Israeli opposition.

About strike by Israel to Gaza in May 2021, massacre in same day Eid Fitr 2021, as the death toll mounted in Gaza and southern Israel, Mr. Menendez issued a stern statement saying he was “deeply troubled” by Israeli strikes that had killed Palestinian civilians and the tower housing news media outlets.

He demanded that both sides “uphold the rules and laws of war” and find a peaceful end to fighting that has killed more than 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis. “In response to thousands of rocket attacks fired by Hamas aimed at civilians, Israel has every right to self-defense from terrorists committed to wipe her off the face of the map,” Mr. Menendez said. “But no matter how dangerous and real that threat may be, I have always believed the strength of the U.S.-Israeli relationship flourishes when it is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom, pluralism, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

(Promoting to more engage in Substack) Seamless to listen to your favorite podcasts on Substack. You can buy a better headset to listen to a podcast here (GST DE352306207). Listeners on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or Pocket Casts simultaneously. podcasting can transform more of a conversation. Invite listeners to weigh in on episodes directly with you and with each other through discussion threads. At Substack, the process is to build with writers. Podcasts are an amazing feature of the Substack. I wish it had a feature to read the words we have written down without us having to do the speaking.

This year, again, strike by Israel from Tuesday, May 9th, 2023, 4am local time (or Monday, May 8th, 10am EDT) until now (currently Friday, May 12th, 2023, 4.25pm EDT —- currently 34 Palestinian died including 7 children and 9 women), Senantor Menendez has not yet commented about Israel’s brutality. 

Another round of federal grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the corruption investigation into Democratic Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez of New Jersey.

Two sources familiar with the matter said at least one powerful New Jersey politician — North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco — was among those who received subpoenas.

A North Bergen spokesman said, “As they always have, Mayor Sacco and the Township of North Bergen will comply with any inquiry they receive from law enforcement and will cooperate fully.”

For months, Menendez has been under criminal investigation into whether he and his wife improperly took cash and gifts from the owners of IS EG Halal, an Edgewater halal meat business.

Senator Bob Menendez was at Masjid Al-Wali New Jersey (10 Olsen Ave, Edison NJ, 08820), August 24th, 2018, nearly 5 years ago, for a Meet and Greet after Jum'ah. Meet Muslim community and answer any questions.

Menendez and the company’s owners have denied any wrongdoing.

“I know of an investigation. Don’t know the scope or the subjects and of course stand ready to help authorities when and if they ask any questions,” Menendez said in October.

A Menendez spokesman declined to comment.

The newly issued subpoenas — including the one delivered to Sacco — are unrelated to any allegations involving the meat company and Menendez, the two sources said.

The sources added that the subpoenas in part seek information about certain legislative changes in New Jersey, but they did not offer details.

The subpoena for Sacco, a Democrat, was issued Wednesday, a day after he was re-elected mayor.

Sacco’s spokesman said, “We do not feel that it would be appropriate to offer any additional comment at this time.”

An FBI spokesman and a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of Southern New York, whose office is leading the federal investigation, declined to comment.

As for Menendez and IS EG Halal, questions persist about how the company won an exclusive worldwide contract with Egypt to certify halal exports — as numerous other firms’ contracts were suddenly canceled in 2019.

Numerous other sources familiar with the matter said some officials at the U.S. Agriculture Department were among those who raised concerns about how the contract was awarded to a New Jersey firm with little experience.

An Agriculture Department did not return calls for comment.

In addition, numerous sources said Menendez’s wife is friends with IS EG’s owners. Menendez chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Egypt.

Lawyers for IS EG have denied any wrongdoing, and the owners have said they won the contract with Egypt on the merits. Other firms in the industry, however, have been raising questions.

“This was an unfortunate decision as all of us certifiers lost our authorizations to provide Halal certification for Egypt. This had a severe impact on the industry,” the USA Halal Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

Menendez said last month he was opening a legal defense fund to help pay lawyers in connection with the criminal investigation.

In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges of illegally accepting favors from a Florida eye doctor, including flights on a private jet, three nights at a five-star hotel in Paris and more than $700,000 in political contributions for him and the Democratic Party.

The case ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors decided not to retry him.

Menendez, who has been in the Senate since 2006, is up for re-election next year.