Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has been accused in a second superseding indictment of making positive comments about the country of Qatar in exchange for millions of dollars allegedly given to a New Jersey real estate business he sought to help—an accusation that arrives months after the senator pleaded not guilty to charges of acting as a foreign agent.
The new version of the indictment against Menendez says the senator connected a member of the Qatari royal family, who is also a principal of the Qatari Investment Co., with Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer charged alongside Menendez in the original indictment.
The two were allegedly introduced before the Qatari company invested millions in a real estate project of Daibes’, the Associated Press reported.
Menendez allegedly made positive statements about Qatar during the span of his discussions with Daibes in late 2021 and 2022, according to NBC News.
Prosecutors said Daibes messaged Menendez with pictures of luxury watches worth up to $23,000 and asked “how about one of those.”
The superseding indictment doesn’t include any new charges against Menendez, according to the AP, which noted the senator’s existing bribery charges accuse Daibes and other businessmen of bribing Menendez and his wife with gold, money, a luxury car and other offerings in exchange for a “series of official acts and breaches of official duty.”
Menendez’s office didn’t immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
Daibes, like Menendez, has also pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the bribery case. Menendez specifically pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. His wife has also pleaded not guilty to the charges. The first superseding indictment against the senator alleged he accepted bribes from Egyptian officials in exchange for sensitive government information, which would make him guilty of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act if he’s convicted. The act requires people to register with the U.S. government if they seek to become a foreign agent, something Menendez is ineligible for as a member of Congress.
Menendez Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Acting As A Foreign Agent (Forbes)
Prosecutors accuse Sen. Bob Menendez of introducing Qatari royal family member to aid NJ businessman (AP)
