David L. Hall, left, and Christopher Bailes, right, of Wiggin and Dana. Courtesy photos
In the last nine months, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged two sitting members of Congress with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) related to alleged bribery schemes.
In September 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey with multiple crimes, including FARA violations, arising out of a broad corruption scheme in which Menendez and his wife received hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for the senator’s influence on behalf of Egypt and Qatar. Similarly, in May 2024, an indictment was unsealed in which U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife were charged with multiple offenses involving corruption and foreign influence, including FARA violations.
