US Senator Bob Menendez faces a fresh federal indictment, accused of receiving bribes from Qatar, marking the second foreign country from which he's alleged to have
improperly taken assistance.
The new allegations span a corruption scheme supposedly occurring between 2021 and 2023. Denying the Justice Department's claims, a lawyer representing the New Jersey senator dismissed them as unfounded and speculative.
Previously, Menendez, a Democrat, pleaded not guilty to charges in October, where he was accused of acting as an illegal agent for Egypt. Despite mounting pressure, including calls from within his own party to resign, he has adamantly refused to step down.
The latest indictment accuses him of receiving gifts, like tickets for car races, in exchange for commendations applauding the Qatari government. Not presenting new charges, the document does include additional specifics about the alleged misconduct, including involvement attributed to his wife, Nadine Menendez, who similarly pleaded not guilty to the alleged bribery and extortion.
Three New Jersey businessmen named in the case have also refuted the charges.
Extending the purported plot timeline by a year, the indictment covers Menendez's tenure as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position he vacated following the initial charges in September.
Throughout the allegations, the 70-year-old Menendez has persistently refuted any wrongdoing.
The new indictment contends that he aided one of the accused businessmen, Fred Daibes, by publicly supporting Qatar to facilitate an investment opportunity. Prosecutors allege that Menendez's public statements praising Qatar were given to Daibes to persuade an unnamed Qatari royal to invest in a New Jersey real estate project.
The indictment highlights exchanges between Menendez and Daibes, where the senator allegedly provided statements in favor of Qatar and showcased interest in high-value watches sent by Daibes. Texts between them, as detailed in the indictment, implied an expectation of favorable agreements.
The indictment also references perks received by Menendez from Qatar, including tickets to a Formula One Grand Prix in Miami. It suggests a correlation between Menendez's trips to Qatar and Egypt and the discovery of gold bars and cash at his residence, allegedly provided as part of the bribery scheme.
Menendez's attorney labeled the new allegations as baseless and stressed that the senator's interactions with various foreign officials were lawful and routine. He maintained Menendez's actions were appropriate concerning Qatar, Egypt, and other countries with which he engaged. Photo by Senator Bob Menendez, Wikimedia commons.