Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is setting up a legal defense fund amid criminal investigation.

Key Highlights :

1. Sen. Bob Menendez is being investigated in connection with a federal criminal probe and is paying tens of thousands in legal fees and setting up a legal defense fund.

2. The new filings reveal payments totaling roughly $200,000 to two law firms and a document search company since the beginning of the year.

3. A spokeswoman for Menendez declined to provide details about the payments but said Menendez would be establishing a defense fund.

4. Sources have said Menendez is under investigation in connection with a Weehawken, New Jersey, meat company that won an exclusive contract with the government of Egypt to certify halal exports worldwide.

5. Several officials have said owners of the company, IS EG Halal, have given expensive gifts to Menendez’s wife in the past.

6. NBC News previously reported that dozens of federal grand jury subpoenas were issued in connection with the investigation, led by the U.S. attorney’s office for Southern New York.

7. Sources have said prosecutors are looking into whether Menendez used his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees $2 billion in aid to Egypt, to help the New Jersey company secure the contract.

8. Lawyers for the company and a Menendez spokesperson have denied any wrongdoing.

9. According to recent campaign filings, the Menendez campaign paid $128,000 to the law firm of Winston and Strawn in January. His campaign paid $48,000 to another firm, Schertler and Onorato, in February. The law firms did not respond to requests for comment.

10. Spokesmen for the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office also declined to comment.

     Senator Bob Menendez, D-N, has been in the United States Senate since 2006. He is currently the senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Previously, he was a member of the New Jersey State Senate from 1994 to 2006. He has also been a practicing attorney since 1978.

     Senator Menendez is a strong advocate for human rights and civil liberties. He has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and its treatment of immigrants. He also has a history of fighting for the rights of minorities and the poor.

     Senator Menendez is a member of the Democratic Party. He has been married to his wife, Dr. Salomon Melgen, since 1993. They have two children.

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