Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democratic senator currently facing charges related to the acceptance of illicit cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes Benz, is confronted with new corruption allegations, as revealed in a recently disclosed superseding indictment.
Already facing charges linked to interests tied to Egypt, Menendez has pleaded not guilty. The latest indictment accuses him of corruption involving Qatar, though no new charges have been filed against him.
Previous revelations detailed a 2022 raid on Menendez's home, where federal agents discovered nearly $500,000 in cash, 13 gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. The updated indictment alleges that Menendez's involvement with Qatari interests led to additional gifts, including cash, gold, offers of tickets to motor racing events, and luxury wristwatches.
While the indictment does not disclose the identity of the Qatari royal family member involved, it mentions the individual as a principal of the Qatari Investment Co.
According to the charges, Menendez sought to encourage the Qatari Investment Co to invest with businessman Fred Daibes, taking actions favorable to the Qatari government in the process. The indictment states that the unnamed Qatari investor considered a multimillion-dollar investment in a real estate project planned by Daibes.
During the investment evaluation, Menendez allegedly made public statements supporting the government of Qatar, providing them to Daibes for sharing with the investor and a Qatari government official.
Daibes, along with Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, now faces charges and has pleaded not guilty. Menendez, his spokesperson, and his lawyers did not immediately comment on the recent allegations, while Tim Donohue, a lawyer for Daibes, stated he had no immediate comment when contacted by the Associated Press.
The alleged corruption involving Qatar spans from 2021 through 2023, according to the indictment. Menendez, who previously faced charges prompting his resignation as chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, denied wrongdoing and has not committed to stepping down or refraining from running for re-election this year.
Having overcome a previous corruption investigation with a deadlocked jury in 2017, Menendez is scheduled for his next trial in May. Despite defense lawyers requesting more time to prepare, the trial, which involves over 6.7 million documents, was not delayed, as ruled by Judge Sidney H Stein last week.
In a separate development, Menendez found himself linked to former Republican congressman George Santos, expelled after an ethics committee report. Democratic senator John Fetterman paid Santos to record a supportive message for Menendez via the Cameo app, a move Menendez defended, stating he didn't believe Fetterman's donors would appreciate him enriching Santos.