His own answer to the charges against him the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; the senator gave Robert Menendez from the floor of the Senate.

During his speech, Senator Menendez attributed political motives to the prosecutions that have been brought against him, which include, among others, the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

As he noted, “let me also say that for the government, for the political establishment and for my critics, it would be much easier for me to step out of the picture so that an unfair deal on immigration could be more easily achieved or a new deal with Iran is more likely, there will be an opening to the Castro regime or the sale of the F-16 to Turkey will be finalized.”

Senator Menendez’s speech

“I want to answer the charges brought against me by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

First, I would like to note that this is the second supplemental indictment that the government has presented. It should be noted that all of the information presented in the new indictments was fully available to the government from the beginning of this proceeding and at least a year prior to this indictment, which begs the question: why did the government not proceed with all of these categories from scratch?

The answer is clear to me with the filing of three indictments, one in late September, a second a few weeks later in mid October and a third just last week in early January, keeps the case in the public eye.

He is poisoning the jury pool and seeking to convict me in the court of public opinion. These government tactics are not only hurting me, but each and every one of you, my colleagues, the political establishment, and most importantly, the New Jersey electorate.

The unacceptable allegations are now creating a growing call for my resignation. Despite my innocence, and before a single piece of evidence was even introduced in court. The United States Attorney’s office seeks victory, not justice.

I have not receive anything. Absolutely nothing by or on behalf of the Government of Qatar to promote the country’s image or issues. The government’s main claim for what I was supposed to do for Qatar was to support a Senate resolution.

This resolution was sponsored and introduced by Senator Graham and co-sponsored by 11 other senators from both parties. It was placed on the agenda of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and passed by voice vote.

Then they mention that in the press release I talk about Qatar and I do mention in one sentence: I am glad to see our friends and allies in Qatar setting moral examples by accepting Afghans who eventually seek safe haven in the United States after being forced to flee.

This is the only thing I say about Qatar. The rest is a call for international cooperation to protect Afghan civil society members, journalists and others at risk if the Taliban take over, something I heard many members of the Senate at the time speak out about.

Qatar has played an important role in hosting our military base, the largest in the Middle East, responded to the government’s call to supply gas to Europe during Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, and yes, facilitating and welcoming Afghan refugees, which the United States government sought to remove from there, among other initiatives.

During the preparations for the World Cup, the issue of labor violations came into focus. And I have criticized Qatar, as I have for any other country when I felt it was not fulfilling its international obligations.

The government seeks to use unfounded speculation, not facts to create the connective tissue to substantiate its claims. They show a photo of watches but no proof that I received such a gift.

He is talking about tickets to a state-sponsored event, but as we all know, members of the Senate often attend state-sponsored events. Indeed, I have seen members of the State Department, the government, and yes, even the Department of Justice attend state-sponsored events.

The government fails to mention that the family member’s petition already had her own tickets to the event. This is not a privilege and it is certainly not a bribe.

Now, let me turn to the government’s other outrageous charge of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt. This is an unprecedented charge, and has never been brought against a sitting member of Congress. And for good reason. It opens a dangerous door for the Justice Department.

My defense of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in this country and my strong criticism of the violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Egypt is an indisputable fact.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have remained steadfastly on the side of civil society and human rights defenders in Egypt and elsewhere in the world. If you look at my actions regarding Egypt during the period described in the indictment and throughout my career, my record is clear.

In 2017, I led the drafting of a bipartisan letter to President Trump expressing grave concern about the deteriorating human rights and civil society situation in Egypt. That same year, I sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee supporting aid as long as Egypt abides by the Camp David Accords.

In 2018, I heard Secretary of State Tillerson focus more on human rights issues in Egypt, and I expressed concerns that the election environment in Egypt at the time was not fair, free, or credible.

In 2019, I met President El Sisi along with members of the Senate at the Munich Security Conference and pressed him on the crackdown inside Egypt, warning him that it risks eroding our security cooperation.

In 2021, during this very period of time that this indictment alleges I was an agent of Egypt, I blocked billions in foreign military funding to Egypt and a fleet of tanks and 25 million in financial security funds. I did all this based on the concerns I had about the worsening human rights situation in Egypt and the detention of activists.

In the fall of 2021, I made an official trip to Egypt and raised all of these issues directly with President El Sisi in the presence of the United States ambassador to Egypt, as well as staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The government mentions this trip in the indictment but omits to mention what actually happened and how I dealt with President Sisi deliberately creating a bad and unfair impression.

More recently on a congressional delegation trip to Egypt in August 2023, led by Senator Graham, along with nine fellow senators and two members of the House, I again challenged President Al-Sisi on these and other issues in the presence of my colleagues and US Embassy staff.

Every time I raise issues of arbitrary arrests and detentions, human rights violations, disbanding of non-governmental organizations and other issues in direct challenge to President El Sisi. When Egypt has acted in accordance with US interests and values, such as fighting terrorism and peaceful relations with Israel, I have applauded Egypt’s actions. How can I challenge the leader of an authoritarian state in public and act as an agent of the same foreign government?

The problem is that there is no evidence of giving or receiving gold bars and coins. Almost nobody in the press has read. They have just heard the government’s narrative.

I am innocent and I intend to prove my innocence, not only for myself, but for the precedent this case will set for you and future members of the Senate. I am concerned, however, because the biggest and staunchest defenders of the Constitution in this House are those who are calling for my resignation.

They would deny me due process and undermine the fundamental principle of our law, that in America you are innocent until proven guilty. If for political expediency charges are now tantamount to guilt, we have subverted the justice system in America.

After 50 years of public service, I did not want to celebrate my golden jubilee like this. But I never violated the public’s trust. I have been a patriot to my country.

Now, let me close by saying that I understand that some of my colleagues are in hard-fought campaigns and for them this was a political calculation.

Let me also say that for the administration, the political establishment, and for my critics, it would be much easier for me to step out of the spotlight so that an unfair deal on immigration would be easier to achieve or a new deal with Iran would be more likely, there will be an opening to the Castro regime or the sale of the F 16 to Turkey will be finalized.

I understand. But I will not stand aside to allow these things to happen, in the name of political expediency. I never took the easy way out. I never would, never, and I won’t do it now.

I simply asked that justice be allowed to work its way.”