Nadine Arslanian: The Businesswoman Behind Bob Menendez’s Success and Scandals

Nadine Arslanian was born on March 7, 1967, in Lebanon to Armenian parents. She fled the country during the Lebanese Civil War and moved to the United States as a child. She lived in Palo Alto, California, for seven months, and then moved to New York. She attended New York University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies, majoring in international politics and French culture and civilization. She has a daughter from a previous marriage who also went to NYU.

Business Career and Interests

Nadine Arslanian has been involved in various business ventures over the years, but her exact career and current job are not publicly known. She is described as an international businesswoman who has traveled to many countries, including India, Egypt, Armenia, and France.

She is also a member of the Hackensack Meridian Children’s Advisory Committee, a nonprofit organization that supports children’s health care in New Jersey. She has a passion for art, music, and fashion, and has attended several events and shows related to these fields.

Relationship with Bob Menendez

Nadine Arslanian met Bob Menendez at an IHOP in Union City, New Jersey, in December 2018. They were introduced by the owner of the restaurant, who was a friend of the senator. At that time, Nadine did not know that Bob was a senator. She was impressed by his intelligence, humor, and attractiveness. They exchanged phone numbers and started dating. They traveled to four countries in five months, and shared their love for their families, their different backgrounds and ethnicities, and their desire to help the people of New Jersey.

Bob Menendez proposed to Nadine Arslanian in October 2019 at the Taj Mahal in India. He sang “Never Enough” from the movie “The Greatest Showman” and asked her to marry him. She said yes through her tears, and he gave her a ring. They got married on October 3, 2020, in a socially-distanced ceremony at the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City. The wedding was attended by about 50 guests, including family, friends, and colleagues. The couple wore masks and followed COVID-19 protocols.

Legal Troubles and Controversies

Nadine Arslanian and Bob Menendez have faced several legal troubles and controversies since their relationship became public. In February 2020, Nadine was involved in a fatal car crash that killed a pedestrian named Richard Koop in Bergen County. She was driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV that belonged to the senator when she struck Koop, who was crossing the street. She was not charged with any crime, but Koop’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her and the senator, seeking unspecified damages.

In September 2023, Nadine and Bob were indicted by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York on corruption-related charges. They were accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for the senator’s influence. The bribes allegedly included gold bars, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, and a luxury vehicle. The Justice Department also seized gold bars and $500,000 from the couple’s home. The senator denied the allegations and said he was the victim of a smear campaign.

Nadine Arslanian has not commented publicly on the charges, but she has stood by her husband’s side throughout the ordeal. She has accompanied him to court appearances and rallies, and has shown her support on social media. She has also faced criticism and backlash from some of the senator’s political opponents and detractors, who have questioned her motives and integrity. She has been called a gold digger, a trophy wife, and a co-conspirator by some of the media outlets and online commentators.

Nadine Arslanian is the businesswoman behind Bob Menendez’s success and scandals. She is his wife, partner, and ally, who has shared his joys and sorrows, his achievements and challenges, his dreams and nightmares. She is also a woman of her own, who has her own interests, passions, and goals. She is a complex and intriguing figure, who has been in the spotlight for both good and bad reasons. She is Nadine Arslanian, and this is her story.

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