The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has subpoenaed state Senator (D-32)/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco related to their corruption probe of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
“As they always have, Mayor Sacco and the Township of North Bergen will comply with any inquiry they receive from law enforcement and will cooperate fully. We do not feel that it would be appropriate to offer any additional comment at this time,” North Bergen spokesman Nick Bond said in a statement.
Sacco, who was elected to his ninth term as mayor by a roughly 72-28 margin on Tuesday, received the subpoena in person in the early morning hours of Wednesday.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that the North Hudson mainstay was not a target in the matter, but was instead given a notice to appear in front of a grand jury empaneled against Menendez.
They also said that the federal authorities are seeking new information unrelated to the Edgewater-based meat company IS EG Halal, as HCV first reported yesterday regarding a new round of subpoenas being issued in the probe.
Another township spokesman, Phil Swibinski, confirmed some of this information in his own statement Thursday evening.
“On Wednesday morning, Mayor Sacco was issued a subpoena seeking information and records regarding several different matters that he was informed are being sought in connection to an ongoing investigation that is not related to him,” said North Bergen spokesman Phil Swibinski.
“Mayor Sacco has been assured that he is not a target of the investigation and was approached only as a potential witness, and he intends to cooperate fully and provide any requested information as he would with any law enforcement inquiry. As this is an ongoing legal matter, Mayor Sacco will not be making any additional comment.”
The U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and Menendez’s office both declined to comment.
NBC News reported last month that Menendez is under investigation in connection with the IS EG Halal over an exclusive contract with the government of Egypt to certify halal exports worldwide, as well as that he is setting up a criminal defense fund as legal bills pile up.
“Senator Menendez is confident that this official inquiry will be successfully closed, but as it is still unresolved he will be opening a separate legal defense fund so as not to drain any further campaign funds,” a spokeswoman for Menendez told the TV news station.
NBC News also reported on the latest subpoenas this evening.
The Daily Beast reported last week that developer Fred Dabies, who pleaded guilty to an insider loan scheme just over a year ago and who owns the Edgewater office that IS EG Halal operates out of, is tied to the investigation.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from North Bergen spokesman Phil Swibinski.