TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey attorney general’s office has initiated a probe into the conduct of local police during their investigation of a 2018 fatal car accident involving Nadine Menendez, the now-wife of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, as per sources within law enforcement.
Nadine Menendez had been in a relationship with the New Jersey Democrat Senator for almost a year when the tragic event occurred on Dec. 12, 2018, in Bogota. The accident resulted in the death of Richard Koop, 49, who was fatally struck near his residence while attempting to cross the street during nighttime hours.
At the time of the incident, Menendez, then identified as Nadine Arslanian, was not subjected to any drug or alcohol tests on-site. The Bogota police quickly determined she bore no responsibility for the accident and permitted her departure from the scene.
According to her account to the police, Koop had suddenly darted in front of her vehicle, making it impossible for her to react in time before he collided with her windshield. The police further noted that Koop, who had worn a dark jacket, was not utilizing a crosswalk and had consumed alcohol at a nearby tavern before the unfortunate incident.