by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 13 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars from former Mariner's Bank executive Fred Daibes , Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and presumably his wife Nadine Arslanian. This scoop was true.
On September 26, with more and more Democratic Senators calling on Menendez to resign, his Egypt connection Wael Hana was arraigned. He was arrested at JFK Airport, flying in. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread.
On September 27, Menendez himself was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. He was released on $100,000 bond with restrictions on communications with (some) Senate staffers. His wife Nadine, the bond was $250,000.
More on Substack here.
On October 17, Wael Hana wrote in to ask that his GPS be removed as painful, emphasizing his wife's interview with the U.S. Consulate in Cairo and his voluntary return.
On October 18, Hana's bid to have GPS removed was denied. Inner City Press was there, thread
On October 23, in a (very) short proceeding, Menendez pleaded not guilty. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread here
Judge Sidney Stein: How do you plead, sir?
Menenez: No guilty. Judge Stein: That's the sole purpose of this conference. Mr. Menendez, I excused you from the last conference. I've set a trial date. If for any reason you decided you want new counsel, let me know
Judge: If you can't afford counsel, you could have one appointed. Adjourned.
On November 13, Judge Stein extended Hana's curfew to 9 pm, Inner City Press live tweeted
OK - now in US v. Sen Bob "Gold Bar" Menendez case, bail conditions hearing on co-defendant Wael Hana, to stay out beyond 8 pm. Hana's lawyer Lustberg: Mr. Hana has come back from Egypt. Now if he wants to go out to dinner, we don't want to have to bother the Court.
Judge: I'll hear the US on why officers are less responsive after 8 pm. AUSA: Mr Hana is seeking to water down conditions
AUSA: We have no problem letting him stay out sometimes after 8 pm. We have a concern if as a regular matter he stays out late, we'd have no idea if it's social or as part of a plan to free. He has connections with foreign intelligence
AUSA: Most flights to Egypt are overnight. So he could be on a plane. Being out after 8 pm should not be after 8 pm. Judge: The cases of cutting off the GPS and fleeing are few and far between. Mr. Lustberg? Lustberg: Here in NJ, Pre-Trial leaps in to action
Judge: I'll move to curfew to 9pm to 8 am daily, with limited extensions to be set by Pre-Trial. For dinner, I think he could bring it in or cook it. The extensions are for business meetings or whatever. Not until 1 am - nothing good happens late at nightLustberg: Do we sent you a proposed order?
Judge: No, I'll do it myself. We are adjourned.
More on Substack here
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The case is US v. Menendez, et al., 23-cr-490 (Stein)
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