At the end of 2015, cranes at the port of Jacksonville, Florida, lifted U.S. military helicopters worth up to $40 million each onto a massive cargo ship headed to deliver the equipment to the Egyptian government.
Wael Hana’s Connection to the Egyptian Government
The Egyptian Ministry of Defense turned to an unusual person to help arrange the transfer of this valuable equipment, Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman who previously led a trucking company, a gas station, and a truck stop on an industrial highway in northern New Jersey.
Wael Hana’s Charges and His Impact on Diplomatic Relations
After a years-long investigation, U.S. authorities charged Wael 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 help sustain military aid to the North African country.
Wael Hana’s Connection to the Egyptian Government
Investigations revealed that Wael Hana’s connection to the Egyptian government dates back further and is more intricate than previously reported. These relationships help explain how Hana was able to leverage his relationship with Menendez, who was the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when they met years after the helicopter shipment and formed a cooperative relationship that quickly became mutually beneficial.
Wael Hana’s Impact on Diplomatic Relations
In the years following the helicopter shipment, Egyptian authorities entrusted Hana with greater responsibilities and authorities, which affected his wealth as business partners and government officials around the world found those agreements opaque.
Wael Hana’s Charges and His Impact on Diplomatic Relations
In 2019, after Hana began helping Menendez connect with Egyptian government officials, Egypt granted one of the companies Hana founded an exclusive certification that the halal meat exported to Egypt had been processed according to Islamic law, drawing ire from the global meat industry. Allegations claim that the company was used to funnel bribes to Menendez and his wife.
U.S. Authorities Investigating Wael Hana’s Background
In addition to the criminal charges, U.S. authorities are investigating Wael Hana’s background as part of an intelligence inquiry, with federal investigators seeking to understand the nature of the intricate relationship between Hana and Egyptian government officials, including intelligence officers, and the historical context of those relationships.
Wael Hana’s Response to the Charges
Wael Hana denied the allegations against him and declared his innocence. His lawyer stated that Wael Hana is a businessman who grew up in the United States after arriving in the country through the diversity visa lottery in 2006 and has built several businesses and acted with integrity and legality at all times.
Menendez and His Wife’s Allegations
Menendez and his wife also claimed their innocence regarding federal charges that they acted as foreign agents and accepted bribes from Hana and other New Jersey businessmen.
Response from the Egyptian Government
The Egyptian embassy and the Department of Defense office in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
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