Bob Menendez’s alleged bribery scheme had wife using alternate ‘007’ phone, involved $35K diamond ring: court docs
NY Post
US Sen. Bob Menendez’s wife received a diamond engagement ring as part of their alleged bribery scheme, which at times involved her using an alternate phone that the couple referred to as her “007” device, according to new court filings.
The veteran New Jersey Democrat, 70, allegedly had an arrangement with Egyptian American halal purveyor Wael Hana, but it supposedly nearly fell apart when the latter tried to cheat the politician and his wife, Nadine, out of the value of a diamond engagement ring, new court documents filed late Monday revealed.
Menendez allegedly received $150,000 in exchange for intervening in a criminal insurance fraud case, the documents indicated.
Hana — a co-defendant accused of using his company to funnel bribes to the Menendezes — was tasked with using part of the payout to buy Nadine a new Mercedes-Benz convertible and the $35,000 sparkler.
Hana, however, actually bought a $12,000 ring, and wangled a $35,000 receipt by splurging on two watches, a bracelet, and a necklace for himself, prosecutors stated.
“The Hana associate also explained that Menendez knew that Hana shortchanged him with respect to the ring, and that Nadine Menendez … had taken the ring back to the jeweler and learned that it was worth less money,” the document explained.
