Another round of federal grand jury subpoenas was issued this week in connection with the corruption investigation of Democratic Sen. 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 a subpoena.
A North Bergen spokesperson said, «As they always have, Mayor Sacco and the City of North Bergen will comply with any inquiries 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, a halal meat business in Edgewater, New Jersey.
The senator and the owners of the company have denied any wrongdoing.
“I know of an investigation. I don’t know the scope or the issues and, of course, I am ready to help the authorities when and if they ask any questions,” Menéndez said in October.
A spokesperson for Menendez declined to comment for this story.
The recently issued subpoenas, including the one served on Mayor Sacco, are not related to any allegations involving the meat company and the senator, the two sources said.
The sources added that the subpoenas are in part seeking information about certain legislative changes in New Jersey, but did not provide details.
The subpoena issued to Sacco, a Democrat, came Wednesday, a day after he was re-elected mayor.
Sacco’s spokesman said: «We do not believe it is appropriate to offer any additional comment at this time.»
An FBI spokesman and a spokesman for United States Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York, whose office is leading the federal investigation, declined to comment.
As for Menendez and IS EG Halal, questions remain as to how the company won an exclusive global contract with Egypt to certify Halal exports, as many other companies had their contracts suddenly terminated in 2019.
Numerous other sources familiar with the matter said some US Department of Agriculture officials among those who raised concerns about how the contract was awarded to a New Jersey company with little prior experience.
A USDA spokesman did not return calls for comment.
In addition, numerous sources said that the senator’s wife is a friend of the owners of IS EG. Menendez chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees billions in US aid to Egypt.
IS EG’s lawyers have denied any wrongdoing and the owners have said they won the contract with Egypt on their own merits. However, other companies in the industry 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 US Halal Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.
Last month, Menendez said he was opening a legal defense fund to help pay defense attorneys in connection with the criminal investigation.
In 2015, Menéndez was indicted on federal corruption charges for illegally accepting favors from a Florida eye doctor, including flights on a private jet, three nights in a five-star hotel in Paris, and more than $700,000 in political contributions for Menéndez and the Party. Democrat. .
The case ended in a mistrial after the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors decided not to try him again.
Menendez, who has served in the Senate since 2006, is up for re-election next year.