'This crook needs to go to prison': Bob Menendez shredded as New Jersey businessman testifies he bribed senator with a $60K Mercedes-Benz

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: In a dramatic turn of events, New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe took the stand in Manhattan federal court on Friday, June 7, and testified that he bribed Sen Bob Menendez.

Uribe disclosed that he provided a Mercedes-Benz to the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, in an attempt to halt a criminal investigation, as per the New York Post. 

New Jersey businessman Jose Uribe bribed Sen Bob Menendez to halt a state investigation into two of his associates

Until recently, Uribe was an obscure figure in New Jersey's business community. However, his involvement in what prosecutors describe as a sprawling and lucrative bribery scheme involving Sen Menendez and others has brought him into the spotlight.

The businessman pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the authorities, making him the star witness in the government’s case against the Democratic lawmaker.

On Friday, Uribe stated he gave Nadine a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for the senator's power and influence to stop a state investigation into two of his associates.

"She agreed to the terms," told Uribe to the Federal District Court, describing Nadine’s reaction to his March 2019 offer to buy her a $60,000 luxury convertible. This deal aimed to leverage the six-term senator's influence to terminate the probe by the state attorney general’s office.

The terms of the bribery deal involved Uribe providing Nadine with a new Mercedes-Benz C-300 in exchange for Sen Menendez's intervention to "do anything possible to stop and kill" the investigation.

Uribe further testified that the exchange was part of a broader scheme where he and Wael Hana conspired to pay off the couple to halt investigations into their businesses and associates.

The businessman expressed remorse for his actions during his plea, stating, "I knew that giving a car in return for influencing a United States senator to stop a criminal investigation was wrong. I deeply regret my actions."

Sen Bob Menendez corruption case overview

The government’s corruption case against Sen Menendez and his wife alleges that the couple accepted a range of lavish gifts, including the car, more than $150,000 in gold bars, $566,000 in cash payments, and other luxury items.

These gifts were allegedly exchanged for favors to Uribe, Hana, and Fred Daibes, and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Uribe's testimony highlighted his collaboration with Hana to pay off the Menendezes. This was intended to stave off investigations into the trucking business of Elvis Parra, a friend of Uribe, and Uribe's own insurance business, which insured Parra’s trucks.

Menendez’s defense team, led by lawyer Avi Weitzman, remained skeptical of Uribe's credibility. After the court session ended, Weitzman declined to comment but indicated in his opening statement in May that the defense planned to portray Uribe as an untrustworthy witness.

"We’ll have a lot to discuss at the end of the case about him, about his lies and his cheating and his crimes and all the ways he’s been incentivized to continue doing all of them," said Weitzman.

On Thursday, the jury also heard from Gurbir S Grewal, who was New Jersey’s attorney general in 2019. Grewal testified about being summoned to Sen. Menendez’s Newark office, where Menendez allegedly inquired about a specific matter pending before his office.

Grewal, now leading the Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement division, recounted that he immediately cut the conversation short, stating, "I didn’t know the case. I didn’t want to know the case. It’s not something I was comfortable speaking to him about."

Sen Menendez and his wife have been charged with 18 criminal counts related to the bribery scheme. If convicted, the New Jersey lawmaker could face up to 45 years in prison for each count. 

Internet slams Sen Bob Menendez as Jose Uribe admits to bribing him with a Mercedes-Benz

One wrote, "Your going to prison. Step down now," and another added, "Feds don’t miss twice Bobby." 

"This crook needs to go to prison," insisted a person, while someone else remarked, "Sounds worse than a bookkeeping error," referencing former President Donald Trump's hush money case.

"Stop playing around and put this man in prison as a deterrent and warning to others," fumed an individual. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.