Egyptian national Wael Hana, who was reportedly indicted with Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez last week on corruption charges, was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday and later made his initial court appearance.
He is charged with one count of conspiring to bribe someone and another count of conspiring to commit wire fraud using honest services.
Hana, who is also an American citizen, is accused by the prosecution of arranging meetings between Menendez and Egyptian government representatives in an effort to persuade Menendez to enhance U.S. funding to Egypt.
Hana, who founded the halal meat company IS EG Halal and is said to have been implicated in Menendez’s wrongdoing, was a close friend of Menendez’s wife, who was also indicted.
Menendez and his wife were named in a federal indictment that was unsealed on Friday.
The indictment charged the couple with collecting payments from the three businessmen in exchange for the senator’s decisions as chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The bribes, according to the DOJ, were given with the intention of protecting the businessmen and helping Egypt.
On Wednesday, Menendez, his wife, and the two other businessmen accused in the indictment are anticipated to make their plans in court.
[READ MORE: New Poll Shows Haley Surging To Second Place In New Hampshire]
About Post Author
