New Jersey officials announced Tuesday that the state would be joining a growing list of Democrat-led states slated to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
New Jersey becomes at least the <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-cars-program/advanced-clean-cars-ii">17th state</a> to follow some or all of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule that was passed by a regulatory board in the summer of 2022. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy said the move will help “lower emissions and improve air quality,” claiming that the new rule will also “preserve consumer choice.” 
“The steps we take today to lower emissions will improve air quality and mitigate climate impacts for generations to come, all while increasing access to cleaner car choices,” Murphy <a href="https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562023/approved/20231121a.shtml">said</a> in a press release. &#8220;Indeed, together with my Administration’s continuing investments in voluntary electric vehicle incentives, charging infrastructure, and the green economy, these new standards will preserve consumer choice and promote affordability for hardworking New Jerseyans across the state.”
The Garden State joins California, Vermont, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Connecticut in committing to implement the complete ban on new gas-powered vehicles, The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4323323-new-jersey-gas-ev/">reported</a>. The ban will not affect gas-powered vehicles already owned or the sale of used gas-powered vehicles. 
Murphy’s decision was hailed by fellow Democrats, including Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., who said the ban would help fight the “climate crisis.” 
“This rule will reduce climate pollution while also saving New Jerseyans money at the pump and spurring investments in building clean cars right here at home,” Pallone Jr. added. “Paired with the investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, New Jersey’s action will accelerate the process of transforming our transportation sector for the benefit of public health and the environment.”
Not everyone was pleased with the state’s adoption of the gas-powered vehicle ban, however. 
“Automotive retailers, which have already invested billions in electric vehicles … warned that a heavy-handed mandate will not work for the dealers — especially with unsold EVs piling up on lots all around the country,” said Ray Cantor of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, which has lobbied against the rule. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The push for electric vehicles has also been strongly supported by the Biden administration even as manufacturers such as Ford have lost money on their EV production. Ford <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ford-gets-9-2-billion-loan-from-biden-admin-for-ev-battery-factories-biggest-check-since-2009-bailouts">received</a> a $9.2 billion loan from the Biden administration intended to help construct three electric vehicle battery plants in the U.S. The Motor company <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ford-loses-billions-on-electric-cars-embraces-hybrids">said</a> in July that it expected to lose $4.5 billion from its EVs this year.

Phil Murphy

New Jersey Joins Growing List Of States Banning Sale Of New Gas-Powered Cars

Cars

Democrats

electric vehicles

New Jersey

U.S.

One of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey’s</a> main teachers unions is calling for the end of the basic skills test for certifying teachers.
The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is advocating for the demise of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing and Math. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s signing of Bill S1553 would eliminate that requirement; NJEA called the test “an unnecessary barrier” hindering the alleviation of teacher shortages.
“When the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) adopted changes to the administrative code around teacher certification, it missed an opportunity to eliminate this requirement, which created an unnecessary barrier to entering the profession,” stated NJEA.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We need you to take action! Last year, NJ eliminated the edTPA, a barrier to becoming a certified teacher. Now it&#39;s time to eliminate another barrier: the basic skills test for teachers. Urge Gov. Murphy to sign S1553 right away. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WEareNJEA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WEareNJEA</a> <a href="https://t.co/XH694Vq7Eq">https://t.co/XH694Vq7Eq</a>
&mdash; NJEA (@NJEA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJEA/status/1722286123009949935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Passing <a href="https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/testing/req/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scores</a> for the basic skills test are 156 for reading, 150 for math, and 162 for writing. The maximum possible score is 200.
Certain educators don’t have to take the basic skills test: those who achieve an SAT, ACT, or GRE score in the top third percentile of the year they took it, as well as those who obtain a master’s or terminal degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA.
Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, insisted that there were better options for overcoming the teacher shortage other than reducing entry standards.
“Teachers should be able to pass a basic skills test before they’re tasked with educating children in those core subjects,” said Neily.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700176143395000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2GQyn-tZVpJ8fQryWYIIri">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You can eliminate some of the unnecessary red tape around becoming a teacher without eliminating a basic skills test.
Teachers should be able to pass a basic skills test before they’re tasked with educating children in those core subjects. <a href="https://t.co/pJjTltuoQl">https://t.co/pJjTltuoQl</a>
&mdash; Nicki Neily (@nickineily) <a href="https://twitter.com/nickineily/status/1724503212668109142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
NJEA successfully advocated for the end of another teacher certification test last year, the educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). NJEA <a href="https://www.njea.org/njea-statement-on-ed-tpa-legislation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> the edTPA as a costly, discriminatory, and unnecessary hindrance to overcoming the teacher shortage.
NJEA represents over 200,000 active and retired educators in the state.
Governor Murphy may comply with NJEA’s petition; he spoke at their conference last week, and praised them for their advocacy in other teacher shortage reduction efforts.
Murphy credited the NJEA for codifying over $20 million in funding for recruiting and training educators, stipends for student teachers, local partnerships expanding paraprofessional training, and over $4.1 million in teachers certification fees waived for about 18,000 educators this past year.
“These investments are crucial to solving our state shortage of educators, and none of them would have made their way into this year’s budget without the NJEA’s influence,” said Murphy.
Murphy also indicated that his administration would put Student Growth Objectives (<a href="https://www.nj.gov/education/AchieveNJ/teacher/objectives.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SGOs</a>) “on a diet,” which he concurred were “bureaucracy-like.” The SGOs are long-term academic goals for students set by teachers in collaboration with supervisors. The governor’s remarks elicited applause and cheers from the NJEA conference crowd: “No more SGOs!”
The governor called those critical of modern public educators “extremists” seeking to insert political ideology in schools, citing specifically those against LGBTQ+ ideology in classrooms.
“They want to dim the light of truth and instead shroud our schools in the darkness of fear and intimidation,” said Murphy. “Know that I have your backs unconditionally and always.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Governor Murphy Announces Preschool Expansion Funding at NJEA Convention on November 9, 2023." width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vg1k-EObFhY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
NJEA’s annual convention made headlines for another reason last week: for another year in a row, the union held a drag queen story hour.
All schools close so that educators can attend the convention.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This week dozens of schools in New Jersey closed as teachers attended the <a href="https://twitter.com/NJEA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NJEA</a> convention. What did teachers do at this conference while thousands of kids stayed home from school?
They were treated to drag shows, drag queen storytime, and “banned books” discussions featuring… <a href="https://t.co/07R6o6UdQe">pic.twitter.com/07R6o6UdQe</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1723499531952947417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lockers

New Jersey Teachers Union Calls For End Of Basic Skills Test For Teachers

Education

Teachers Unions

Democratic power player George Norcross says officials cited rules banning &#8220;obscene or indecent&#8221; displays when they ejected him from Lincoln Financial Field for hanging American and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli flags</a> from his luxury box — but the team tells a different story.
Norcross, 67, a former co-owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, said in a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/norcross-eagles-game-israel-flag/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that he had displayed the flags during Sunday&#8217;s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys because he wanted to show support for Israel in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians.
&#8220;Yesterday, I was forcibly removed and assaulted by the non-police security staff of Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles/NFL for refusing to remove a 3&#8242; x5&#8242; American and Israeli flag I&#8217;d hung off the box I was sitting in,&#8221; Norcross said. &#8220;As a longtime passionate fan and season ticket holder, I have watched the Eagles/NFL make clear and strong statements on numerous important civil justice issues and ethnic and world conflicts, including supporting the people of Ukraine, so as a strong supporter of Israel — a country which was viciously attacked by the terrorist group Hamas less than a month ago — I thought it was an important statement to make.&#8221;
Norcross went on to say that when officials ejected him, they cited rules against any display that might be considered &#8220;obscene or indecent.&#8221;
&#8220;It remains unclear why the Eagles/NFL believe that the US-Israeli flag should be deemed &#8216;obscene or indecent&#8217; or otherwise inappropriate — which is what I was cited for — and should therefore be ripped down despite both issuing public statements strongly supporting Israel following the October 7th attacks,&#8221; he continued.
The Philadelphia Eagles also released a statement, saying that official stadium policy banned any signage that was not related to the game &#8212; and said that when they approached Norcross to inform him of that policy, he became combative.
&#8220;Mr. Norcross was ejected from the stadium only after his abuse toward numerous stadium staff members continued,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;He was escorted from the suite level to the stadium&#8217;s ejection point, just as anyone else would be after engaging in abusive behavior in violation of stadium policy.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The Philadelphia Eagles had previously spoken out about the October 7 massacre, perpetrated by Hamas terrorists, and had honored the American citizens who remain hostage in Gaza during a recent game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today at Lincoln Financial Field, we’re flying 10 American flags in 10 empty seats to honor the Americans currently being held hostage.
These hostages were just 10 of the 200 kidnapped during the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7. <a href="https://t.co/YHd38ZEhA9">pic.twitter.com/YHd38ZEhA9</a>
&mdash; Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eagles/status/1716275122464489810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

TOPSHOT-US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT-GAZA-PROTEST

New Jersey Politico Says Eagles/NFL Ruled Israeli Flag At Game ‘Obscene Or Indecent’ — Team Says Otherwise

New Jersey Politico Says Eagles/NFL Ruled Israeli Flag At Game 'Obscene Or Indecent' — Team Says Otherwise

General

Hamas

Israel

Philadelphia Eagles

A school district in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a> partnered with a sex education group that has offered to provide schools with so-called “gender-affirming&#8221; kits that include “tucking underwear,” chest binders, and devices allowing girls to pee standing up.
New <a href="https://defendinged.org/incidents/princeton-public-schools-partnership-with-local-sexual-education-nonprofit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documents</a> and videos obtained by Parents Defending Education (PDE) and first shared with The Daily Wire, show evidence of the Princeton Public School (PPS) district’s partnership with HiTOPS, a leftist sex education nonprofit. The partnership, which the district has previously <a href="https://centraljersey.com/2023/09/20/princeton-school-district-reconsiders-relationship-with-hitops-after-project-veritas-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it would reconsider, was <a href="https://www.projectveritas.com/news/hitops-sneaks-sex-ed-into-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first revealed</a> by Project Veritas back in September.
HiTOPS, based in Princeton, describes itself as an organization <a href="https://www.hitops.org/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dedicated</a> to “inclusive and youth-informed sex education and LGBTQ+ support for young people throughout New Jersey.”
Correspondence obtained by PDE show HiTOPS sending lesson plans and promotional flyers to PPS. One of the <a href="https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gender-Affirming-Kit.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flyers</a> sent to PPS from HiTOPS was promoting a “gender affirming kit.” The kit included things like chest binders, “packing” tape, “tucking” underwear, “packers,” “chest forms,” and “stand to pee” devices.
“The HiTOPS Gender Affirming Kit is a groundbreaking resource designed to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students while promoting inclusivity within your school community. The Kit is a comprehensive package that equips administrators, teachers, school counselors, and nurses with the knowledge and tools they need to empower students on their gender journey,” the flyer said.
The Daily Wire asked PPS if it had sourced any “gender affirming” kits from HiTOPS.
In one teacher manual sent to PPS and designed for students in 6th through 8th grade, teachers are encouraged to <a href="https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Intro-to-SOGIE-Lesson-Plan-Grades-6-8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explain</a> “how a baby’s sex is determined at birth and how it may/may not relate to a person’s inside identity” and to instruct students about gender identity.
Teachers are <a href="https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Intro-to-SOGIE-Lesson-Plan-Grades-6-8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also directed</a> to teach students to use preferred pronouns and how to be “affirming” of different gender identities. In a second lesson plan, teachers are told to tell students that everyone “here has a sexual orientation, a gender identity, and a way they express that gender.”
The Daily Wire asked PPS about the extent to which the manuals were used in classes throughout the district.
&#8220;These trainings are a child safe-guarding nightmare — not only do they tell teachers to ask for the gender pronouns of every student, but they also instruct teachers to ask students how they want to be referred to in front of their parents. It is an explicit invitation to keep secrets from parents,” Erika Sanzi, director of outreach at PDE, said in a statement to The Daily Wire.
“The lessons also teach children that sex is assigned at birth and that even though some people claim there are only two genders, there are actually many genders. 6th graders are expected to name three sexual orientations and three gender identities — can they name three former presidents or three countries in Africa? This is cult-like content, and it has no place in a school,” Sanzi added.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687352286746000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2XxW0VTdKx-2nQAhkiTR8M">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Other resources obtained by PDE show <a href="https://defendinged.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SOGIE-Resource-Packet-Sample.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">packets</a> sent to the PPS packed with definitions of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. PDE also obtained a 90-minute Zoom call between HiTOPS educators, teachers, and parents where HiTOPS director Stacy Robustelli outlined the group&#8217;s approach.
One example book meant for young children she read said that there were more than two genders. “Some people say there are only two genders, But there are really many genders,” Robustelli read from the book.
In another clip from the Zoom meeting, Robustelli said that teachers needed to develop parameters for pronoun use, including whether they used “preferred pronouns” in front of parents or guardians.
On its website, HiTOPS, which promotes transgender ideology through a number of various initiatives, also lists several Planned Parenthood locations throughout New Jersey as “health care resources.”
PPS Superintendent Carol Kelly <a href="https://planetprinceton.com/2023/09/16/princeton-public-schools-issues-two-statements-about-hitops-video/#:~:text=After%20the%20far%2Dright%20activist,school%20district%20does%20not%20condone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously</a> said that the district&#8217;s partnership with HiTOPS was done in part to comply with New Jersey&#8217;s LGBT inclusion and diversity law.
Neither PPS nor HiTOPS responded to Daily Wire requests for comment.

Transgender Symbol and Pencils With The Color of Lgbt Flag

New Jersey School District Partnered With Sex-Ed Group That Provides Kits With ‘Tucking’ Underwear, Chest Binders

Gender Identity

Parents rights

Pronouns

Transgender

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a> crisis pregnancy center has responded after a Democratic lawmaker launched a campaign last week to shut down crisis pregnancy centers in the state, calling them “brainwashing cult clinics.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) <a href="https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-launches-campaign-to-shutdown-deceptive-anti-choice-clinics-posing-as-womens-healthcare-providers-in-nj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> last week in front of the Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, that he would be working to shut down the “anti-choice” crisis pregnancy centers. The center responded this week, saying that they believed that Gottheimer had never visited the center and that his efforts targeting them were misguided.
“We are deeply disappointed,” Debbie Provencher, executive director of Lighthouse, <a href="https://njrtl.org/statement-in-response-to-congressman-gottheimers-attack-against-pregnancy-centers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. “I would have been happy to meet with Congressman Gottheimer and educate him on the work we do, had he reached out to me. To our knowledge, he has never visited any Lighthouse facility to learn about the services we offer to those facing unexpected pregnancies and to under-served parents.”
Provencher said that the center had provided over 5,300 women and men with help since 2011. The center provides ultrasounds and other resources to pregnant women and <a href="https://lighthouseprc.org/abortion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gives information</a> on the negative side effects of abortions.
In addition to Lighthouse, Gottheimer also criticized other centers part of the NJ Consortium of Crisis Pregnancy Centers. The Consortium is a group of “life-affirming” nonprofits that provide millions of free services every year.
“Women often go to these healthcare hoax clinics thinking they will receive real medical help, but instead they are greeted by people with no medical background whose goal is to brainwash women with their own ideological agenda,” a press release from the Democrat said.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Gottheimer is pursuing legislation targeting crisis pregnancy centers at the national level, pushing the Stop Anti-abortion Disinformation Act in the Republican-controlled House. He has also urged New Jersey Democrat Governor Phil Murphy and the state legislature to pass laws regulating advertising for the centers.
“Attacking New Jersey’s pregnancy centers hurts – rather than helps – New Jersey women,” Provencher said. “Rep. Gottheimer is directly harming women who benefit from a safe place to think through their pregnancy decisions and obtain medical confirmation of pregnancy for presumptive Medicaid eligibility. The centers also provide women with social support, parenting education, and basic necessities to care for their newborn children. Caring for women and their families is at the heart of what we do as pregnancy centers. Attacks against us are attacks against those we serve.”

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (Democrat) speaks at a press

Crisis Pregnancy Center Responds After New Jersey Democrat Launches Campaign To Shut It Down

Abortion

Democrat

Pregnancy

Pro-Life Movement

Social Issues

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bob-menendez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Menendez&#8217;s</a> (D-NJ) then-soon-to-be wife, Nadine Arslanian, reportedly hit and killed a man with her car in 2018 while driving in New Jersey — an event that would later lead to her acquisition of a 2019 Mercedes-Benz that prosecutors allege in a federal indictment was part of a bribery scheme.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/nyregion/nadine-menendez-mercedes-death.html?partner=slack&amp;smid=sl-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the incident, which happened on a cold night in December 2018 while Nadine Menendez was driving through a poorly lit area, resulted in the near instant death of 49-year-old Richard Koop — who had just returned home by Uber after spending the evening out drinking at bars.
The revelation that a car accident led to Nadine Menendez seeking out a new vehicle was contained in the indictment as she allegedly reached out to one of the businessmen who was indicted about her need for a new car.
Senator Menendez came to an agreement with the businessmen, agreeing to &#8220;intervene with [a federal prosecutor] to influence the prosecution of the New Jersey Defendant in exchange for a car,&#8221; the indictment said.
The report said that there have been suspicions about whether Nadine Menendez was treated favorably by law enforcement, noting that by the time a special unit arrived on scene, local police already determined “that no criminality was suspected to be involved,” according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office.
However, there was no indication that any of the police officers knew that Nadine Menendez was with the senator, based on footage reviewed by the Times.
Nadine Menendez claimed that Koop was &#8220;in the middle of the street&#8221; and &#8220;he jumped on my windshield.&#8221; She was never drug tested and local officials later said that she was not at fault.
The indictment against Menendez and his wife was unsealed last month and accused the senator and his wife of accepting bribes from the three businessmen in exchange for actions that he took as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt. Menendez faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the indictment said. Federal authorities reportedly found gold bars and nearly $500,000 in cash stuffed throughout the senator’s home that they traced back to the businessmen Menendez allegedly worked with.

New Jersey Senator Menendez Makes First Court Appearance For Federal Bribery Charges

Bob Menendez’s Wife Killed Man With Her Car In 2018, Leading Her To Seek Car That Ended Up In Indictment

Bob Menendez

Crime

Fraud

Federal law enforcement officials have launched a second investigation related to Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bob-menendez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Menendez</a> (D-NJ) being indicted last week on federal corruption charges.
NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-probing-whether-egyptian-intelligence-played-role-menendez-case-rcna117531" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the FBI has now launched a counterintelligence investigation in addition to the criminal case against Menendez to ascertain whether Egypt&#8217;s intelligence services were involved in the alleged bribery scheme.
Investigators want to know if Egypt&#8217;s intelligence services gained access to the senator, who was chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, through his wife, the report said.
Menendez was forced to step down from his chairmanship after being indicted due to Senate Democrat bylaws.
The federal indictment against Menendez accused the senator and his wife of accepting bribes from three businesspeople in exchange for actions that he took as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.
“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the indictment said. Federal authorities reportedly found gold bars and nearly $500,000 in cash stuffed throughout the senator’s home that they traced back to the businessmen Menendez allegedly worked with.
Menendez faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
Menendez was arraigned in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona Wang allowed Menendez to be released on a $100,000 bond, but ordered the senator to surrender his passport and placed restrictions on contacts with others.
The senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, also entered a not-guilty plea, as have three other co-defendants in the case.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flood-of-democrat-senators-call-on-bob-menendez-to-resign-over-corruption-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flood Of Democrat Senators Call On Bob Menendez To Resign Over Corruption Allegations</a>
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.

New Jersey Senator Menendez makes first court appearance

FBI Launches Second Investigation Related To Bob Menendez Bribery Scandal: Report

Scandals

U.S. Senate

Wael Hana, an Egyptian national who was indicted last week on corruption charges with Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bob-menendez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Menendez</a> (D-NJ), was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday and later made his initial appearance in court.
Hana pled not guilty and was &#8220;granted release on a $5 million personal recognizance bond and strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/nyregion/wael-hana-arrested-menendez.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. He faces one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
Prosecutors alleged that Hana, who is also an American citizen, helped facilitate meetings between Menendez and Egyptian government officials in an effort to get Menendez to increase U.S. aid to the Egypt.
Hana was a longtime friend of Menendez&#8217;s wife, who was also charged, and had started a halal meat company, IS EG Halal, that &#8220;the sole certifier of halal meat imported to Egypt, and the government said it became the conduit for a stream of money to the senator,&#8221; the report added.
CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/menendez-co-defendant-hana/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that the USDA contacted the Egyptian government in 2019 and objected to giving IS EG Halal a virtual monopoly over its competition.
&#8220;When Official-1 attempted to explain why the monopoly was detrimental to U.S. interests, MENENDEZ reiterated his demand, in sum and substance, that the USDA stop interfering with IS EG Halal’s monopoly,&#8221; the indictment said. &#8220;Official-1 did not accede to MENENDEZ’s demand, but IS EG Halal nevertheless kept its monopoly.&#8221;
Menendez, his wife, and the two other businessmen charged in the indictment are expected to make their arrangements in court on Wednesday, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/businessman-pleads-not-guilty-charges-bribing-us-senator-menendez-2023-09-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.
The federal indictment against Menendez and his wife was unsealed on Friday and accused the senator and his wife of accepting bribes from the three businessmen in exchange for actions that he took as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Menendez faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the indictment said. Federal authorities reportedly found gold bars and nearly $500,000 in cash stuffed throughout the senator’s home that they traced back to the businessmen Menendez allegedly worked with.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flood-of-democrat-senators-call-on-bob-menendez-to-resign-over-corruption-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flood Of Democrat Senators Call On Bob Menendez To Resign Over Corruption Allegations</a>

Sen. Bob Menendez

Egyptian National Indicted With Bob Menendez Is Arrested At Kennedy Airport

Egypt

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said he has no interest in running against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) after the 69-year-old lawmaker was indicted on federal corruption charges last week.
Christie made the remarks during a Sunday interview with Kristen Welker on NBC News&#8217;s &#8220;Meet The Press&#8221; when pressed on the topic and whether the indictment undercuts Republican claims that there is a two-tiered justice system in the country.
&#8220;I&#8217;m glad that the Justice Department acted, and they acted on some very horrific facts,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Look, I did this Kristen, as you know, for seven years as the U.S. attorney in New Jersey, the fifth largest office in the country. We did 130 corruption cases and never were defeated. So I know a bit about this. There is no way that any public official has any legal, or plausible, or ethical explanation for having $500,000 in cash stuffed in jackets and envelopes throughout their home, gold bars that have the fingerprints, DNA of someone who you were attempting to fix the system for. I commend the Southern District of New York for doing the right thing.&#8221;
Christie added that while he does not believe that the entire DOJ has done bad things, he had a problem with U.S. Attorney David Weiss offering Hunter Biden a sweetheart plea deal.
When asked if he would run against Menendez if he did not win in the fall, Christie responded: &#8220;No, I have no interest in being in the United States Senate.&#8221;
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-8433">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
&#8220;You rule it out completely?&#8221; Welker pressed.
&#8220;Yes, I have. I have throughout my entire career,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I had a chance to appoint myself to the United States Senate, Kristen, in 2013 when Frank Lautenberg passed away and I was governor. If I didn&#8217;t appoint myself to the United States Senate, the easiest way to get there, I sure as heck am not going to run for it.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Full Christie: ‘Momentum is everything in this race’" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZvsbVyabCCc?start=392&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Chris Christie Attends Town Hall Event In New Hampshire

Chris Christie Weighs In On Running Against Bob Menendez In The U.S. Senate

Chris Christie

Corruption

Politics

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alexandria-ocasio-cortez">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a> (D-NY) called on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign after the 69-year-old lawmaker was indicted on federal corruption charges last week.
The indictment, unsealed on Friday, claims that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, who allegedly gave the senator bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and benefit Egypt.
Menendez faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
AOC was asked to respond to the scandal during an appearance on CBS News&#8217;s &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; with Margaret Brennan after Brennan noted that the congresswoman had called on Republicans to resign amid their own scandals.
&#8220;Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, as you know, has just been indicted on bribery charges,&#8221; Brennan said. &#8220;Should he resign? And what do you think of his statement that it has to do with him being a Latino?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, you know, I think it&#8217;s- the situation is quite unfortunate, but I do believe that it is in the best interest for Senator Menendez to resign in this moment,&#8221; Ocasio-Cortez said. &#8220;As you mentioned, consistency matters. It shouldn&#8217;t matter whether it&#8217;s a Republican or a Democrat. The details in this indictment are extremely serious. They involve the nature of, of not just his but all of our seats in Congress.&#8221;
Ocasio-Cortez dismissed Menendez&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/menendez-addresses-growing-calls-to-resign-after-corruption-charges">claims</a> that there was a &#8220;campaign&#8221; trying to bring him down and that it was racially motivated.
&#8220;And while, you know, as a Latina, there are absolutely ways in which there is systemic bias. But I think what is here in this indictment is quite clear,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;And I believe it&#8217;s in the best interest to maintain the integrity of the seat. I want to emphasize that all people are- they must be extended the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. That is the legal reality in our country. But when it comes to the political and the standard of dignity that we want to maintain for the public in the United States Congress, I do believe it is in the best interests.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> calls on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign following his indictment on federal bribery charges, &quot;to maintain the integrity of the seat.”
“It shouldn&#39;t matter whether it&#39;s a Republican or a Democrat. The details in this indictment are extremely serious.” <a href="https://t.co/QAe2H0qmJi">pic.twitter.com/QAe2H0qmJi</a>
&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1705956588257730967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-7532">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>

US-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-DIPLOMACY

AOC Calls On Sen. Menendez To Resign, Bucks His Defense That He’s Being Racially Targeted

AOC Calls On Sen. Menendez To Resign, Bucks His Defense That He's Being Racially Targeted

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Congress

A popular New Jersey Democrat has announced plans to challenge Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, just days after Menendez was indicted on bribery charges. 
Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey’s 3rd District <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1705658967878230372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> his primary challenge to Menendez on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying that the Garden State “deserves better” and that re-electing Menendez in 2024 would be a mistake. The move comes as several top Democrats, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, have said the senator should step down. 
“After calls to resign, Senator Menendez said &#8216;I am not going anywhere.&#8217; As a result, I feel compelled to run against him,” Kim <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1705658967878230372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X. “Not something I expected to do, but NJ deserves better. We cannot jeopardize the Senate or compromise our integrity.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
After calls to resign, Senator Menendez said “I am not going anywhere.” As a result, I feel compelled to run against him. Not something I expected to do, but NJ deserves better. We cannot jeopardize the Senate or compromise our integrity. Please join me:<a href="https://t.co/QFIaMsgJc9">https://t.co/QFIaMsgJc9</a>
&mdash; Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ/status/1705658967878230372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Friday, Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-jersey-democrat-sen-bob-menendez-indicted-on-bribery-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicted</a> on bribery charges after U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams opened a corruption investigation in October 2022. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. 
The indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes intended to benefit the New Jersey senator and the Egyptian government, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/23/bob-menendez-andy-kim-primary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>. Some of the alleged bribes were in the form of gold bars. Menendez had previously been indicted on federal corruption charges, but that case ended in a mistrial. 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-4228">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty. I intend to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the same success I’ve had for the past five decades,” Menendez <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democratic-pressure-mounts-sen-bob-menendez-resign-rcna117015" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement Friday, rejecting resignation calls. “This is the same record of success these very same leaders have lauded all along. It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat. I am not going anywhere.”
Kim was first elected to Congress in 2018, flipping the third congressional district seat, and easily won re-election in 2020 in the district former President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/behind-viral-photo-rep-andy-kim-cleaning-midnight-after-riots-n1253519" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took</a> in 2016 and 2020, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/08/2022-midterms-new-jersey-andy-kim-win-00065436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>. 
Several Democrats have <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/politics/new-jersey-democrats-menendez/index.html#:~:text=New%20Jersey%20Gov.%20Phil%20Murphy,indictment%20on%20federal%20bribery%20charges." target="_blank" rel="noopener">called for</a> Menendez to resign, including Governor Murphy, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), and Democratic New Jersey Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Bill Pascrell, and Donald Norcross. 
“The people of New Jersey absolutely need to know the truth of what happened, and I hope the judicial system works thoroughly and quickly to bring this truth to light,” Kim said before announcing his campaign. “In the meantime, I don’t have confidence that the Senator has the ability to properly focus on our state and its people while addressing such a significant legal matter. He should step down.”

Rep. Andy Kim

Democrat Congressman Announces Plan To Challenge Indicted NJ Sen. Menendez

Elections

Senate

Senate Democrats

Far-left <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/msnbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSNBC</a> host Mehdi Hasan slammed Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on Friday after the senator was indicted on multiple federal corruption charges.
The indictment says that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, who allegedly gave the senator bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the DOJ, the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.
Menendez faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value,” the indictment said. Federal authorities reportedly found gold bars and nearly $500,000 in cash stuffed throughout the senator’s home that they traced back to the businessmen Menendez allegedly worked with.
&#8220;They recovered several gold bars,&#8221; Hasan noted. &#8220;Yes, gold bars worth over $100,000. Prosecutors say that Menendez at one point even googled, and I quote, ‘kilo of gold price.’ So, Menendez and his wife are now facing three federal charges of conspiracy for bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.&#8221;
&#8220;In a statement today, the senator denied the allegations, calling them &#8216;baseless,'&#8221; Hasan continued. &#8220;He also attacked the &#8216;excesses&#8217; of these prosecutors, who he says have misrepresented the normal work of a congressional office.&#8221;
&#8220;Now, putting aside the potential criminality &#8212; the alleged criminality [aside] here for a second, that is a ludicrous claim,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Does Senator Menendez really think that Americans will buy that it is normal work for a United States senator to basically do the bidding of a foreign government?”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Hasan noted that Menendez was accused of helping Egypt through various means as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Even far-left Democrat activist Mehdi Hasan is slamming Democrat Senator Bob Menendez after he was indicted on federal corruption charges, says his defense is “ludicrous” <a href="https://t.co/9HS84i8goy">pic.twitter.com/9HS84i8goy</a>
&mdash; John Hasson (@SonofHas) <a href="https://twitter.com/SonofHas/status/1705409899885138349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-democrats-begin-pushing-menendez-to-resign-as-he-steps-down-from-chairmanship">Top Democrats Begin Pushing Menendez To Resign As He Steps Down From Chairmanship</a>

Variety & Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Summit

Leftist MSNBC Host Mehdi Hasan Slams Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez’s Defense: ‘A Ludicrous Claim’

Leftist MSNBC Host Mehdi Hasan Slams Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez's Defense: 'A Ludicrous Claim'

MSNBC

Menu

Streaming Now