FBI Investigator Who Spied on Sen. Menendez at Steakhouse Gives Meal a Rave Review on Witness Stand

Surveillance work can be long and dreary, but one lovely May 2019 evening in Washington, D.C., two FBI investigators got to enjoy a steak dinner while they monitored the conversations between a now-indicted senator, his wife, and their dinner guests.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was indicted last September along with his wife Nadine Menendez and three New Jersey businessmen on charges related to a bribery scheme allegedly designed to benefit the government of Egypt.

The indictment included numerous salacious details, including accusations that the Menendezes were given cash that was used to pay for a Mercedes-Benz convertible and that authorities seized hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gold bars and cash stuffed into the pockets of a jacket emblazoned with Sen. Menendez’s name from the couple’s home. All defendants have denied the accusations against them and pled not guilty.

Bob Menendez’s trial kicked off last month, and despite loud criticism from within his own party, he has rejected calls to resign and is currently running for re-election to his seat as an independent.

Testimony in the senator’s trial continued Tuesday, and according to a report by The New York Times, FBI investigator Terrie Williams-Thompson provided a colorful recollection of the evening at Morton’s The Steakhouse.

Williams-Thompson testified that she and a male investigator, Damein Ragland, were assigned to monitor the dinner meeting, which was described in the indictment as one of multiple gatherings Nadine Menendez allegedly set up between her husband and Egyptian officials.

The Times article summarized her testimony, describing the two FBI investigators posing as a married couple on a date, she wearing a black dress, and other FBI investigators scattered inside and outside the restaurant, and even one who posed as an Uber driver. The fake couple were seated at a patio table next to the Menendez party “where five diners already were seated and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Jackets were off, laughter was heard and wine was being poured. A cigarette dangled from one man’s hand.”

The FBI investigators used their ruse of being on a date to have Ragland act like he was snapping photos of Williams-Thompson but really take photos of the Menendez table, and other concealed cameras photographed and videoed their conversations.

During the dinner, Williams-Thompson testified, she heard Mrs. Menendez say to the group, “What else can the love of my life do for you?” – meaning her husband the senator.

To make sure they didn’t “blow our cover,” Williams-Thompson testified that she and Ragland used fake names, “dined just like” ordinary customers, and did not let Morton’s staff or anyone else at the restaurant know what they were doing.

And Morton’s got a rave review, according to the Times‘ retelling of Williams-Thompson’s testimony:

When a prosecutor, Lara Pomerantz, asked whether they had eaten, Ms. Williams-Thompson replied: “I sure did. It was good, too.”

“That is part of blending in,” she added. “You eat? I’m going to eat.”

Judge Stein interjected: “I hope the F.B.I. paid for your meal.”

“Oh yes, sir, they did.”

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