After years of receiving significant foreign aid from the United States, the Egyptian government was concerned about a potential decrease in funding. However, in 2017, when the United States cut a portion of aid due to Egypt’s human rights record, Egyptian officials found support from Senator Robert J. Menendez of New Jersey, who held a prominent position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of Egypt, Menendez allegedly performed favors for Egyptian officials who had developed a relationship with him through his then-girlfriend, including approving arms sales and helping to lobby for funding release in Washington. In exchange, Menendez and his wife received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, checks, and gold bars from Egyptian officials.
Egypt highly values its relationship with the United States, which has provided substantial financial aid since the late 1970s as a result of the peace agreement with Israel in the Camp David Accords. This aid has been used to build up Egypt’s military capabilities, as well as to highlight its importance in addressing issues like terrorism, security for Israel, and migration to Europe. Egypt also emphasizes its status as a stable force in a volatile region and utilizes its possession of the Suez Canal and liquid natural gas facilities to enhance its strategic significance. Recognizing that American aid is not guaranteed, Egypt has pursued arms and business deals with Russia and China to play the United States against its rivals.
While Washington has historically approved the majority of Egypt’s aid package, critics, including human rights advocates, members of Congress, and other skeptics, question why the United States supports an authoritarian and corrupt regime. The indictment against Menendez led to calls for Congress to withhold more of the aid. Approximately $300 million of the aid is subject to human rights conditions, but the Biden administration has released $235 million to Egypt this year.
Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in 2013, Egypt has arrested and imprisoned tens of thousands of political opponents, activists, journalists, and others perceived as a threat to the government. It has also suppressed the media and cracked down on protests. Critics argue that Egypt often misuses the military aid by purchasing equipment that does not align with its security needs, primarily centered around countering radical Islamist insurgents in North Sinai Province. Despite being the second-largest recipient of American military aid, Cairo’s relationship with Washington is uneven, and Egyptian officers reportedly view their American counterparts warily. Leaked Pentagon documents have also revealed Egypt’s consideration of providing arms to Russia for its conflict in Ukraine.
While Menendez was allegedly involved in favors for Egypt, other members of Congress were calling for restrictions or freezes on military assistance until Egypt improved its human rights record. Although Menendez appeared to support these efforts by signing a letter in 2018 urging the Trump administration to address Egypt’s political and human rights concerns, the indictment suggests that he used his position to benefit Egypt rather than push for change.
The indictment provides multiple instances where Menendez informed his wife of his intention to approve arms sales, which she then relayed to an Egyptian-American businessman who passed the information to Egyptian officials. In return, the Menendezes received bribes in the form of cash, gold, and other rewards. One such deal involved awarding the businessman’s company the lucrative contract to certify all meat imported from the United States into Egypt, despite his lack of experience in halal meat and concerns about price increases. This company was also reported to have worked in conjunction with Egypt’s intelligence services. Furthermore, Menendez allegedly met with a senior Egyptian intelligence official and provided information to help prepare rebuttals for anticipated questions on human rights issues from other senators.
In summary, the relationship between Egypt and the United States has been a complex one, with Egypt relying on American aid while pursuing arms deals with other countries. Senator Menendez, despite outwardly criticizing Egypt’s human rights record, was allegedly involved in performing favors for Egypt in exchange for personal benefits. Critics have called for greater scrutiny and restrictions on aid to Egypt due to ongoing concerns about human rights abuses and corruption.