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Washington, DC – The corruption expenses in opposition to prime United States Senator Bob Menendez might have been dreamt up by a Hollywood author: They contain gold bars, envelopes full of money and a luxurious automotive.
Nevertheless, for a lot of of Menendez’s colleagues in Congress, in addition to rights advocates, the case is way extra consequential than its movie-like intrigue.
Menendez is accused of accepting bribes in trade for utilizing his elected place to learn the Egyptian authorities. However the allegations increase questions in regards to the broader ties between the US and Egypt — a relationship that has been below scrutiny amid human rights issues.
“This isn’t simply a problem of 1 corrupt particular person. It is a matter of a problematic relationship that isn’t based on the beliefs and values of respect to democracy and human rights,” mentioned Nancy Okail, president of the Middle for Worldwide Coverage, a US-based suppose tank.
Rights teams have accused Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s authorities, which got here to energy in a 2013 navy coup, of jailing tens of 1000’s of dissidents and outlawing just about all political opposition.
El-Sisi’s administration has denied accusations of rights abuses whereas stressing the necessity to keep stability within the nation. However in Washington, requires rethinking ties with Cairo have been rising — particularly after final month’s indictment.
“This could spark a protracted overdue reassessment of the bilateral relationship between the US and Egypt,” Okail informed Al Jazeera.
Menendez has pleaded not guilty to the costs.
The fees
Previously, in his function because the chair of the Senate International Relations Committee, Menendez had large affect over US overseas coverage. He stepped down from the function on September 22, the day the indictment in opposition to him was launched.
Federal prosecutors allege that Menendez and his spouse illegally accepted a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} from three businessmen in return for utilizing his “official place to guard and enrich them and to learn the Authorities of Egypt”.
In keeping with the indictment, Menendez met with Egyptian officers and promised to facilitate arms gross sales to Cairo. He additionally supplied associates with “extremely delicate” data — together with particulars about US Embassy personnel in Cairo — which was then relayed to Egyptian officers.
Mai El-Sadany, government director of the Tahrir Institute for Center East Coverage (TIMEP), a Washington, DC-based suppose tank, mentioned the allegations are “extraordinarily critical” and unprecedented.
“They point out collusion with Egyptian navy and safety officers. They point out interference on the a part of Egyptian officers into policymaking. They usually point out that Egypt was utilizing unlawful ways to affect our overseas coverage,” El-Sadany informed Al Jazeera.
Nonetheless, the response from the administration of US President Joe Biden has been muted. Officers have principally refused to weigh in on the allegations in opposition to Menendez, citing the continuing standing of the authorized proceedings.
Requested in regards to the problem final month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon an “energetic” authorized matter.
“The administration ought to be livid on the Egyptian regime,” mentioned Seth Binder, director of advocacy on the Venture on Center East Democracy (POMED), a rights group. “That is purported to be a strategic companion, a detailed companion of the USA.”
Binder added that the Biden administration might sanction Egyptian officers concerned within the case, limit navy assist to Cairo or impose penalties for broader human rights abuses in Egypt.
However for now, there isn’t any signal of that taking place. In Congress, although, many Democrats are demanding extra scrutiny of Washington’s partnership with Cairo.
Sen. Menendez ought to resign and there ought to be a full coverage evaluate of our relationship (together with safety help) with Egypt and investigation into potential overseas affect marketing campaign.
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) September 26, 2023
Don Beyer, a Democratic congressman, referred to as on the US to “word and reply forcefully to the covert Egyptian marketing campaign to thwart American overseas coverage goals detailed within the indictment”.
For his half, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy additionally mentioned that the International Relations Committee has a “duty” to grasp what occurred — and the extent to which Egypt was concerned.
“There are critical implications for US coverage in direction of Egypt if — because the indictment suggests — they have been making an attempt to make use of illicit means to curry favour on the committee,” he informed reporters final month.
‘Maintain’ on assist
On Saturday, statements became motion as Senator Ben Cardin, who changed Menendez as committee chair, positioned a “maintain” on $235m in assist to Egypt.
Cardin cited Egypt’s human rights report in an announcement announcing the pause. However his transfer underscored the ability his predecessor had over Washington coverage in relation to Cairo.
“Congress has been clear, via the regulation, that the federal government of Egypt’s report on a variety of essential human rights points, good governance, and the rule of regulation should enhance if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained,” Cardin mentioned in a statement.
“Subsequently, I can’t permit overseas navy financing at the moment into consideration to maneuver ahead.”
He additionally pledged to dam future assist and arms gross sales to Egypt if its authorities “doesn’t take significant and sustainable steps to enhance the human rights circumstances in its nation”.
Earlier this 12 months, US lawmakers had positioned human rights circumstances on $320m of the $1.3bn that Cairo receives yearly from Washington.
However Blinken waived the circumstances final month on the grounds that the help advances US pursuits, like “counterterrorism” efforts and stability within the Center East.
The US finally withheld only $85min aid to Egypt. In earlier years, the Biden administration additionally overruled circumstances lawmakers positioned on different components of the help to Egypt.
Binder mentioned the Menendez case performed a task within the current resolution to freeze the $235m in assist. He famous that Senator Cardin wouldn’t have turn out to be the chair of the International Relations Committee have been it not for the indictment. “It definitely was an element,” he informed Al Jazeera.
It’s unclear what is going to occur to the suspended funds now.
“We’re persevering with to seek the advice of carefully with Congress and the Egyptian authorities on offering the overseas navy financing package deal introduced by the Secretary that advances our shared imaginative and prescient for a safe and affluent area whereas guaranteeing tangible progress on human rights in Egypt,” a State Division spokesperson informed Al Jazeera in an e-mail.
The Egyptian embassy in Washington didn’t reply to Al Jazeera’s request for remark by the point of publication.
‘Establishment pondering’
Biden got here into workplace in 2021, promising to centre human rights in US overseas coverage. The truth is, as a candidate in 2020, he particularly slammed his predecessor Donald Trump for sustaining shut ties with President el-Sisi.
“No extra clean checks for Trump’s ‘favourite dictator’,” he wrote in a social media submit at the moment, referring to the Egyptian president.
Mohamed Amashah is lastly residence after 486 days in Egyptian jail for holding a protest signal. Arresting, torturing, and exiling activists like Sarah Hegazy and Mohamed Soltan or threatening their households is unacceptable. No extra clean checks for Trump’s “favourite dictator.” https://t.co/RtZkbGh6ik
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 12, 2020
Observers say rights violations in Egypt have continued in recent times, and a few advocacy teams worry the abuses could intensify forward of a presidential vote on the finish of the 12 months.
However since taking workplace, Biden has bolstered the alliance with Egypt, inaugurating a proper joint strategic dialogue and financial fee with the nation.
Furthermore, US officers typically laud Egypt and praise its role in mediating ceasefires between Israel and Palestinian teams in Gaza.
El-Sadany, of TIMPE, blamed what she referred to as “established order pondering” within the US overseas coverage institution for Washington’s obvious unwillingness to regulate its posture in direction of Cairo.
“There’s an incorrect assumption that if we shake the connection with Egypt, and Egypt doesn’t obtain the help in full, that it’ll by some means upset the connection with Israel,” she informed Al Jazeera.
“However the actuality is that Egypt acts in its personal pursuits and that truly, this Egyptian regime is sort of near Israel, with the US assist or with out it.”
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