United States v. Menendez refers to a high-profile federal criminal case (docket number 1:23-cr-00490) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against U.S. Senator Robert (Bob) Menendez (D-NJ), his wife Nadine Menendez, and two New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. The indictment, unsealed on September 22, 2023, charges the defendants with bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent under FARA, and related offenses in a corruption scheme spanning from 2018 to 2022. Prosecutors allege Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes—including gold bars, cash, luxury vehicles, and other valuables—in exchange for Menendez using his political influence to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar and the co-defendants' business interests. Specific accusations include pressuring U.S. officials to protect Egypt's monopoly on halal meat certification and intervening in criminal investigations involving Daibes. The trial, which began in May 2024, involves 16 felony counts against Menendez. Co-defendants face related charges, with Hana and Daibes also accused of conspiracy. Menendez has pleaded not guilty, claiming the gifts were legitimate and unrelated to his official duties, while his defense argues the prosecution is politically motivated. As of the latest developments, Nadine Menendez's trial was severed due to health issues. The case highlights allegations of foreign influence in U.S. politics and has drawn significant media attention due to Menendez's long tenure as a powerful senator and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This case is distinct from an earlier 2015 prosecution (2:15-cr-00155) against Menendez and Salomon Melgen, where Menendez was acquitted of most bribery charges but convicted on one count of being an unregistered foreign agent, later overturned on appeal.