El Salvador Bitcoin Critic Senator Menendez Indicted for Obstruction of Justice

United States Senator Bob Menendez, a well-known critic of Bitcoin, and his wife have just been charged with 18 counts for obstruction of justice. This indictment builds on the earlier bribery charges he has been facing since last year.

The Genesis of Senator Menendez’s Indictment for Corruption 

The New Jersey Democrat’s legal issues began last year when he was indicted in September on four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery. The prosecutors alleged that he and his wife accepted bribes in exchange for using his position and influence to enrich and protect three businessmen. 

“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,” according to a grand jury in Manhattan federal court.

He was also accused of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Egypt, receiving bribes in exchange for helping the government of Qatar. He had pleaded not guilty to these charges and accused prosecutors of targeting him. 

However, Menendez stepped down from his position as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair following these allegations. 

Senator Menendez Indicted for Obstruction of Justice 

In the new indictment, the federal prosecutor’s charges against him include obstruction of justice. According to the authorities, Menendez attempted to cover up the bribery scheme by having his former lawyers give misleading information during their meetings. 

Prosecutors alleged that his lawyers had lied when they claimed that the senator was not aware of the bribes his wife received because he thought the payments were loans. 

Menendez called the obstruction allegations false. He added: The government has long known that I learned of and helped repay loans – not bribes – that had been provided to my wife. I am innocent and will prove it no matter how many charges they continue to pile on.”

A politician tagged as a corrupt offender is nothing new but Senator Menendez’s story becomes interesting when his criticism of the digital currency ecosystem is factored in place. 

When the Central American nation of El Salvador legitimized Bitcoin as a legal tender back in September 2021, Menendez was one of the opponents of the move. He said, “Bitcoin can open the doors of corruption in El Salvador.” However, it appears like his prediction has backfired on him.

Meanwhile, El Salvador sits at an unrealized gain of nearly $42 million as Bitcoin continues a bullish uptrend, trading at $66,000 at the time of writing.