US Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, is facing new allegations of accepting bribes from Qatar. This is the second foreign country that he is accused of improperly aiding. The latest indictment, which covers a corruption scheme from 2021-23, alleges that Mr. Menendez accepted gifts, including tickets to car races, in exchange for making favorable comments about the Qatari government.
In October, Mr. Menendez pleaded not guilty to charges that he acted as an illegal agent of Egypt. He has been under growing pressure to resign, including from his own party, but he has refused to step aside. His lawyer has called the justice department’s claims “baseless” and “bizarre conjectures.”
The new indictment does not include any new charges but provides additional details about the alleged crimes involving Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez. Mrs. Menendez, who is also charged in the same bribery and extortion scheme, has pleaded not guilty. Additionally, three New Jersey businessmen named in the case have denied the charges against them.
The latest allegations extend the timeline of the alleged plot by one year and cover Mr. Menendez’s time as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He resigned from this post after the initial charges were filed in September.
Mr. Menendez, who is 70 years old, continues to deny any wrongdoing. The new indictment claims that he assisted one of the accused businessmen, Fred Daibes, by making public comments in favor of Qatar to help him secure an investment. The document also alleges that Mr. Menendez received benefits from the Qataris, including tickets to a Formula One Grand Prix race in Miami, Florida.
Furthermore, the indictment states that upon returning from a trip to Qatar and Egypt, Mr. Menendez performed a web search for the value of one kilo of gold. During a search of the Menendez house in June 2022, investigators discovered two one-kilo gold bars, which the government alleges were provided as part of the bribery plot. Agents also found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that bore Mr. Daibes’ fingerprints and DNA.
In response to the new allegations, Adam Fee, a lawyer for Mr. Menendez, stated that the government’s claims “stink of desperation.” He argues that the prosecutors’ allegations are based on routine and lawful contacts between a senator and his constituents or foreign officials. According to Fee, “at all times, Senator Menendez acted entirely appropriately with respect to Qatar, Egypt, and other matters.”
The case against Senator Menendez continues to unfold, and the allegations against him raise serious concerns about the integrity of public officials. As the legal process moves forward, it will be important to ensure a fair and thorough investigation to determine the truth behind these accusations.