At the end of 2015, cranes at a port in Jacksonville, Florida lifted U.S. military helicopters valued at up to $40 million each onto a massive cargo ship bound for delivering equipment to the Egyptian government.
The Beginning
The Egyptian Ministry of Defense turned to an unusual person for help in arranging the transport of this valuable equipment: Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman who previously led a trucking company and gas station on a dirty industrial street in northern New Jersey.
Hana’s Ties to the Egyptian Government
After a years-long investigation, U.S. authorities charged Hana in September with paying bribes to Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez in exchange for actions beneficial to Egypt, including Menendez’s promise to assist in ensuring the continued flow of military aid to the North African country.
Hana’s Business Expansion
In the years following the helicopter transfer, Egyptian authorities entrusted Hana with increasing responsibility and authority, which affected his wealth to the point that his business partners and government officials worldwide found the arrangements opaque.
Resorting to Bribes
In 2019, after Hana began assisting Menendez in connecting with Egyptian government officials, Egypt granted a lucrative monopoly to one of Hana’s companies, suddenly making him a player in international trade.
The U.S. Investigation
In addition to the criminal charges, U.S. authorities are examining Hana’s background as part of a counterintelligence investigation, with federal investigators trying to understand the nature of Hana’s relationship with Egyptian government officials, including intelligence officers, and the history of those relationships.
Hana’s Denial of Charges
Hana denied the charges against him and declared his innocence. His lawyer stated that Hana cooperated with investigators and invited prosecutors to meet with him before charges were filed, but the offer was declined.
Hana’s Influence on the Egyptian Government
Hana’s influence appears to have increased in other ways, as he showed up at the Brazilian Embassy in Cairo and spoke with Brazilian diplomats to discuss increasing meat imports from Brazil. Hana boasted capabilities that exceeded those of a traditional businessman, stating that if a Egyptian inspector was on the way, he would resolve the issue. And if health authorities were obstructing some operations, he would remove the obstacles.
Hana seems to have access to the Egyptian government and has succeeded in getting what he wants, which raised concerns among Brazilian diplomats.
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