Politics
Senator Bob Menendez Convicted in Major Bribery Scandal
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty on 16 counts related to a bribery scheme where he accepted gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz, and other valuables in exchange for aiding foreign governments.
A jury convicted Menendez on all charges after over 12 hours of deliberation across three days, concluding a nine-week trial. Menendez, who previously led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces the possibility of decades behind bars.
Prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have urged Menendez to resign. “Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer stated.
Speaking to reporters outside the New York City courthouse, Menendez maintained his innocence, asserting, “I never violated my public oath. I have never been but a patriot of my country and for my country.”
Menendez’s lawyer, Adam Fee, expressed disappointment with the verdict and vowed to pursue an aggressive appeal. Fee stated, “I was surprised and disappointed with the jury’s guilty verdict.”
Prosecutors described the case as demonstrating “shocking levels of corruption.” Damian Williams, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, remarked, “This wasn’t politics as usual, this was politics for profit. Now that the jury has convicted Bob Menendez, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.”
Throughout the trial, Menendez pleaded not guilty. His defense argued that the gifts he received did not constitute bribes, as there was no proof he took specific actions in return. His wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also faces charges but her trial was delayed for breast cancer treatment. She has pleaded not guilty.
Menendez’s defense attempted to shift blame onto Mrs. Menendez, portraying her as financially troubled and seeking cash and assets. Prosecutors, however, presented expert testimony, emails, and text messages to demonstrate that Menendez accepted extravagant rewards from foreign governments. These included gold bars worth over $100,000, some of which were shown to jurors as evidence.
This is not the first time Menendez has faced federal corruption charges. In 2017, he was tried for allegedly doing political favors for a wealthy Florida eye doctor in exchange for luxury vacations and other lavish gifts.
Politics
Sri Lanka swears in new left-leaning president
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president, pledging to bring “clean” governance as the country continues to recover from its deepest economic crisis. The left-leaning leader, known for his stance against corruption, sees his election as a call for change and transparency in a country long troubled by political cronyism.
Dissanayake’s election follows the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 after mass protests driven by economic hardships. In his inaugural address, the 55-year-old president emphasized the need for a new political culture that restores public trust. “We need to establish a new clean political culture,” he said, while committing to safeguard democracy.
His speech underscored the importance of unity, with representatives from Sri Lanka’s Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities attending the ceremony. Dissanayake promised good governance, economic reform, and a focus on manufacturing, agriculture, and IT development. He also pledged to uphold Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), aiming to reduce the burden of austerity on the country’s poorest citizens.
Dissanayake’s swearing-in was preceded by the resignation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, setting the stage for a parliamentary dissolution as the nation embarks on this new political chapter.
Politics
Okpebholo Secures Victory in Edo Governorship Election
Okpebholo Monday, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election after receiving 291,667 votes. He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes, and Labour Party (LP) candidate Olumide Akpata, who finished third with 22,761 votes. Fourteen other candidates also contested but received fewer votes.
Prof. Faruk Kuta, the Returning Officer from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, officially declared Okpebholo the winner at 09:27 pm at the collation center in Benin City, Edo State’s capital, amidst applause from APC supporters.
Okpebholo’s victory was dominant in over 10 out of the state’s 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo achieved marginal wins in the remaining councils. The APC also claimed control in two of the three key senatorial districts in Edo State.
News
Suspect in Alleged Trump Assassination Attempt Faces Gun Charges
Ryan Routh, the suspect in the alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has been charged with federal gun crimes. During a brief court hearing in Palm Beach, the 58-year-old was charged with two offences: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years, and possession of a firearm with an obstructed serial number, punishable by up to five years.
Routh, dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit and with his hands cuffed, spoke to a public defender for several minutes before the hearing began. Initially displaying a calm demeanor with occasional smiles, he turned expressionless once the court proceedings got underway, responding to the judge’s questions with, “Yes, your honor.”
In a series of personal questions to assess his eligibility for a public defender, Routh revealed that he had “zero funds” in his bank account, made about $3,000 monthly, and owned two trucks in Hawaii, each valued at around $1,000.
Routh was brought into the courtroom just before 10:00 (14:00 GMT) and observed the scene, which included other defendants, press members, and attendees. After his brief hearing, he was escorted out as proceedings for other cases began.
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