Video surfaces of Sen. Menendez’s wife Nadine Arslanian striking, killing pedestrian in 2018

Nadine Arslanian struck and killed 49-year-old Richard Koop as he was walking on East Main Street on Dec. 12, 2018, according to a Bogota police report. She did not face any charges.

Matt Trapani and Naomi Yané

Oct 4, 2023, 8:24 PM

Updated 218 days ago

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A deadly 2018 crash in Bogota appears to have involved Sen. Bob Menendez’s now-wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez. The couple was dating at the time of the incident.
News 12 New Jersey has obtained security video from the crash.
Arslanian struck and killed 49-year-old Richard Koop as he was walking on East Main Street on Dec. 12, 2018, according to a Bogota police report. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Koop was taken to the hospital and died a short time later from his injuries.
Arslanian told police officers that Koop ran across the roadway and jumped onto the hood of her car, according to the police report.
Arslanian did not face any charges in the crash. Police say that Koop was wearing a dark jacket at the time and appeared to be jaywalking and not crossing at a crosswalk. Police determined that Arslanian was not at fault for the crash.
The incident is facing new scrutiny now that Arslanian and Menendez have been indicted on bribery charges. Federal prosecutors allege that two friends and business associates bought the couple a new Mercedes in the weeks after the crash. They allege that the Mercedes was a bribe.
MORE: Bogota police report from the incident.


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