Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) heads to the Senate floor for a procedural vote at the U.S. Capitol on September 20, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has appointed Abby Lowell, the same attorney who is defending Hunter Biden on tax and firearms charges, to represent him in the federal bribery case, a prosecutor’s spokesperson announced.
In addition to representing President Joe Biden’s son, Mr. Lowell has a distinguished track record in high-profile cases, including Mr. Menendez’s past corruption charges.
Democratic senators also hired Lowell while he was in office. indicted in 2015 He is accused of receiving illegal gifts from an eye doctor in Florida. The incident ended up being Dropped Due to a deadlocked jury.
Lowell in 2022 Matthew Grimes, an employee of former President Donald Trump’s longtime supporter Tom Barrack was acquitted. Grimes, Barrack, and others were charged with secretly operating as foreign agents for the United Arab Emirates.
Lowell also represents Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former adviser. During Trump’s presidency, he helped Kushner secure formal approval for a permanent White House security clearance.
Menendez’s hiring of Lowell was first reported on law 360.
Abby Lowell arrives for the funeral of late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the Washington National Cathedral on September 1, 2018.
Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call Inc. | Getty Images
Neither Lowell nor Senator Menendez responded to requests for comment.
Mr. Menendez is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday in Hudson County, New Jersey, where he began his political career, a person directly involved in the planning told NBC News.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, were indicted Friday in Manhattan federal court on charges of using political influence to support the Egyptian government in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal gifts.
The senator and his wife face three charges: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit public rights extortion. Three New Jersey businessmen allegedly involved in the bribery transactions were also indicted on the first two counts.
Menendez is expected to say at a news conference Monday that he has no intention of resigning, according to people involved in organizing the event. This comes after a number of senior administration officials, including fellow Democrat Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, publicly called on Menendez to resign.
He took a defiant stance against these demands, denying all charges and stating, “I’m not going anywhere.”
The senator, his wife and co-defendants are scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday morning.
