Extra: In Menendez Trial Cooperator Uribe Describes Brick of Cash Hana Counsel Tries to Distance

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by Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 10 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian. This scoop was true.

Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar...

On April 11, 2024 after Nadine Menendez and then the government asked for delay, to July or undefined, Judge Stein severed her case and reaffirmed May 6, Inner City Press thread

On Sunday night April 14 the US wrote in again asking for a delay to July, six page letter on Patreon here.

But Judge Stein told the parties to confer and report by April 16 at 1 pm. Then he set an April 17 conference, which Inner City Press live tweeted and dubbed "Berate-gate," thread

On May 13, jury selection began - but did not finish. Abit later, Menendez got into an car with FOP NJ plates.

On May 14 jury selection continued but was not yet completed, from the ending, thread

Late on May 14, the US Attorney's Office filed opposition to slides the defense wants to use in its opening arguments, including quotes from Colin Powell and MLK, and when Nadine came into possession of gold - full letter on Patreon here

Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection and then opening arguments here, then filmed Bob's exit (he said he thought it went well and that his guy did great).

On May 21, the US Attorney's Office put on Wael Hana's lawyer, then a US State Department official working on Congressional approval (or holds) on arms transfer to Egypt, thread here.

On May 23, with the trial in haitus, docketed was Menendez' lawyers opposition to quashing his subpoena for Jose Uribe's attorney proffer and communications with SDNY prosecutors, filing on Patreon here

On May 29, Inner City Press live tweeted, omitting Morton's steakhouse but including this

On May 30, Menendez's lawyer's (long) cross, including this.

On May 31, starting 1 pm, the agent was cross examined, and then USDA Ted McKinney on direct, thread

  After the trial day, Inner City Press filed Menendez' walk to his Jersey-plated car; asked why he called McKinney he said, Wait for the cross [examination].

Nadine Menendez hired a new lawyer, who previously represented Sydney Powell among others. Then this: "ORDER as to Nadine Menendez: At the request of the defendant and with the consent of the government [Doc. No. 434], the status conference is adjourned from June 10 to June 12 at 5 :00 p.m.(Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 6/3/2024)."

On June 4 Judge Stein dockted a partially redacted Order in which he denied Menendez's request that the prosecutors give him impeachment material about a Confidential Human Source they are not going to call as a witness - but Menendez said he will.

On June 5, Inner City Press live tweeted - and afterward asked Menendez a question. Thread.

On June 6, after more cross of Agent Graves, Gurbir Grewal testified, thread

On June 7, after an FBI fingerprint expert, cooperator Jose Uribe, Inner City Press live tweeted, thread

On June 10, Uribe finished his direct examination around 4 pm, then counsel for Hana, not yet Menendez, began cross examination, thread:

Assistant US Attorney: What did you write to Nadine? Uribe: I have to meet with you. I am worried, nothing is happening. AUSA: What did you mean by that?

 Uribe: The investigation was not being stopped, nor on the case of Elvis Parra. I wrote, Please get your car  Uribe: Will [Hana] is the one who promised her a car, but I am the one who provided it. AUSA: What did you write? Uribe: LOL, Lord Oh Lord, go get your car. AUSA: What did she write? Uribe: That Leo at Ray Catena [Mercedes dealer] said the car was sold   AUSA: What were you asking for? Uribe: I asked Bien[venido] Hernandez [of Prestige Trucking] for $15,000, since Will hadn't paid. AUSA: Did Bien give you $15,000 in cash? Uribe: No. AUSA: Did you tell Will about the $15,000? Uribe: Yes. AUSA: Here's lines 19-20

 AUSA: Nadine texts you, You make dreams come true, I will always remember that. When do you think she meant? Uribe: She will comply with her part of the deal, hopefully. AUSA: Then what? Uribe: She wrote, we'll all have a great 2019. Meaning, she'll comply  Uribe: Then Nadine was trying to set up my meeting with Senator Menendez, over cigars and a drink. I said, he probably have a thousand things to do, we can pick another day. AUSA: Why did you write that? Uribe: I didn't want her to feel no pressure  Uribe: I wrote, Thank our friend. AUSA: Meaning who? Uribe: Senator Menendez.

 AUSA: Here Nadine texted you about "Part 2" - what do you think she meant? Uribe: The investigation into Bien Hernandez. AUSA: Where did you meet? Uribe: Sophia's restaurant in NJ   AUSA: Did Nadine complaint to you about Hana not delivering on anything else but the car? Uribe: That he didn't give her a job at his meat company.

AUSA: What did Will tell you if anyone was going to help with his meat business? Uribe: Nadine and Senator Menendez.  AUSA: Did Nadine help you about Will not helping with mortgage payments? Uribe: Yes. She was about to lose her home. She was very worried. She asked me to tell Wael to pay her mortgage by Monday morning....  AUSA: Here what did Nadine write to you?

Uribe: That she wanted to meet to get information to resolve Part 2, that "this stands always, not only Part 2 but for a lifetime, I will not forget what a true friend you are." She will be there for me.  AUSA: Did Will complain to you about Nadine? Uribe: Yes. That she only cares about money. Judge: Let's break.

 They're back AUSA: Did you find that Elvis and Bien paid Will? Uribe: Yes. I was angry - I had set up the deal. AUSA: What did Will tell you about getting $125,000 from them? Uribe: He confirmed it, at Ventanas Restaurant. Will wanted to set up a trucking company

 Uribe: There was a brick of cash, $25,000. I told Will, I'm going to take it, I'm paying for Nadine's car. He said, Take it brother. AUSA: Then what? Uribe: Detective Lopez wanted to interview Ana. I reached out to Nadine immediately, for her to tell the Senator  Uribe: Nadine told me that the Senator told her, It would have been so so easy if we had wrapped both together. AUSA: What did you understand by that? Uribe: If the Senator had knowledge of Part 1 and Part 2 from the very beginning, just like Elvis got probation  AUSA: Did you have an understanding if Senator Menendez had done anything on behalf of Elvis?

Menendez' lawyer: Objection! Lack of foundation. Judge: Sustained. AUSA: He didn't ask you questions about who Elvis Parra or E&K Trucking was, correct? Uribe: Correct.  AUSA: What did you explain to him? Uribe: That I was worried that the authorities were handling an investigation that could reach to my daughter. I asked, Don't let these people hurt my daughter.

AUSA: What did Robert Menendez say? Uribe: He would look into it  AUSA: Who paid for the dinner? Uribe: I did. AUSA: What was your understanding of the status? Uribe: Elvis got a good resolution and I was close to getting peace for my family. AUSA: Did you tell Robert Menendez you were paying for Nadine car? Uribe: No. He knew 

Menendez's lawyer: Objection!

 Judge (to Uribe) Why did you think Mr. Menendez knew?

Uribe: They kept trying to set up by the meeting with me, the only reason was payments I was making. AUSA: Did Nadine ever tell you what to say and not say to Menendez? Uribe: No  Uribe: I texted Fernando, "el primo got a call about a late payment." I mistyped it, masculine, primo. Judge: If you wrote el prima it would be right? Uribe: La prima, it should have been. I told Fernando to pay with my card from Frank & Sons Logistics.   Judge: Ok, let's break

 Back. AUSA: Who paid the bill at Segovia's restaurant with Senator Menendez, Nadine and her daugther? Uribe: I did. AUSA: These text messages, directing your attention to Row 3, can you read it, August 8, 2020? Uribe: Segovia is very private, I would love to meet  AUSA: Here, Nadine texts you, Are you free for dinner - what did you say?

Uribe: That I am busy, but open. She said Bob made a reservation 7:30. I said, On my way. AUSA: And this? Uribe: Nadine says Sabine thanks her tip - she meant tio, uncle, I am her uncle.  AUSA: When did you become aware of a Federal investigation involving you? Uribe: 2022 - the FBI took my cell phone, subpoenaed me to grand jury.

AUSA: Publish GX 11e1, the subpoena, June 16, 2022, for all records about payments to Senator or Nadine Menendez  AUSA: What next? Uribe: Nadine wanted to meet with me. We met at the Glenpointe Marriott. I told her, They went to my house, gave me a bunch of subpoenas. She said, Hermano, I get sick every time I look at papers. She said she lost her cell phone at Grand Central 

Uribe: She asked me how I would explain paying for her car. AUSA: What did you say? Uribe: That I'd say she was a friend and that I help until she could pay me back. AUSA: Had you ever discussed it as a loan? Uribe: Never. AUSA: Was it a loan? Uribe: It was not   Judge Stein: We'll break here

They've back: AUSA: Between the FBI subpoena-ing you and your indictment in September 2023, did you meet with prosecutors?

Uribe: Once. About my failure to file taxes. AUSA: Did you decide to cooperate? Uribe: No.  AUSA: Later did you decide to cooperate? Uribe: Yes, hoping to get a better sentence. AUSA: How many times have we met with prosecutors? Uribe: 10 to 15 times. FBI was there sometimes too. AUSA: Did you plead guilty? Uribe: Yes, under a cooperation agreement. 

Uribe: I pled guilty to using a fake tax return to get a loan from Santander bank, too. Also an SBA loan.... AUSA: With the other crimes, what is the maximum sentence you could receive? Uribe: 95 years. I am hoping for no incarceration.  AUSA: What do you have to do? Uribe: Tell the truth. AUSA: No further questions.

Cross examination. Hana's lawyer: In your allocution did you state anything about a cash payment to Mr. Hana? Uribe: I cannot answer yes or no as Mr. Hana is part for the deal  Hana's lawyer: You didn't have any details, right?

Uribe: Not step by step. Hana's lawyer: So you didn't deal with Hana, you went to Nadine, right? Uribe: I can't say the timing. Hana's lawyer: You lost hope in Will, right? Uribe: Correct.  Hana's lawyer: I could break here. Judge: Let's break, then.

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