A new round of grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the Justice Department’s corruption investigation into New Jersey’s senior senator. NBC New York’s Jonathan Dienst reports.
Another round of federal grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the ongoing corruption investigation into New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez.
Two sources familiar with the matter said at least one powerful New Jersey politician, North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, was among those to receive a subpoena.
A spokesperson for the mayor 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."
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For months, Menendez has been under criminal investigation as to whether he and his wife improperly took cash and gifts from the owners of an Edgewater halal meat business IS EG Halal.
The Democratic senator 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 additional comment for this story.
The newly issued subpoenas – including the one delivered to Sacco – are unrelated to any allegations involving the meat company, two sources said.
The sources said the subpoenas in part seek information about certain legislative changes in New Jersey, but are still part of the overall investigation focused on Menendez.
According to NJ.com, some of the new questions regard Fred Daibes, a real estate developer based in Edgewater who has had multiple projects along the Hudson River waterfront. The subpoenas focus on proposed state legislation that could impact the business owned by Daibes, according to NJ.com.
The outlet reported Daibes pleaded guilty in 2022 in an inside loan scam at Mariner's Bank, the financial institution he founded, but it wasn't clear how it could be connected to the Menendez investigation.
Sacco’s spokesman said "We do not feel that it would be appropriate to offer any additional comment at this time." The subpoena issued to Sacco came one day after he was reelected mayor.
As for Menendez and IS EG Halal, questions continue to swirl as to how the Edgewater business won an exclusive worldwide contract with Egypt for Islamic certification of imports — as numerous other firms suddenly had their contracts cancelled back in 2019.
Sources said some officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture were among those who raised concerns about how the contract was awarded to a New Jersey firm with little prior experience.
Numerous sources said Menendez’s wife is friends with the IS EG owners. The senator is chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which oversees billions in aid to Egypt.
Lawyers for IS EG have denied any wrongdoing and the owners have said they won the contract with Egypt on merit. But other firms in the industry are 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.
In April, Menendez said he was opening a legal defense fund to help pay defense lawyers in connection with the ongoing investigation.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Damian Williams and an FBI spokesman both declined to comment. A spokesperson at the USDA did not return calls for comment.
