Federal prosecutors reportedly hit embattled Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez with new charges in a superseding indictment returned in New York on Tuesday, according to ABC News.
The new charges reportedly allege that Menendez made positive statements about Qatar and received luxury items, such as wristwatches, in return for his comments, according to ABC. In September, Menendez — then the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — was charged with three felony counts related to alleged bribery schemes involving Egypt by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.
The high-end wristwatches that were allegedly offered to Menendez ranged in value from $10,000 to $24,000, according to ABC7, citing the yet-to-be-released superseding indictment. Menendez pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him in September. (RELATED: John Fetterman Calls On Senate To Expel Bob Menendez)
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“How about one of these,” the new indictment quotes co-defendant Fred Daibes as asking in a message he sent to Menendez, reportedly accompanied by photos of the watches, according to ABC7. Menendez and Daibes previously attended a function hosted by Qatari officials in Manhattan, federal prosecutors reportedly said.
Then, on Sept. 29, 2021, Daibes allegedly messaged Menendez regarding a Senate resolution in support of Qatar and its government while the Qatari Investment Company contemplated reaching a real estate investment deal involving Daibes, according to ABC7.
In March 2022, Qataris allegedly offered tickets to a pricy Formula One race in Florida to Nadine Menendez, the senator’s wife, and the Qatari Investment Company reportedly sealed a lucrative joint venture with Daibes in 2023, according to ABC7. Menendez allegedly continued to receive items of value after that, according to ABC7.
Menendez’s office did not respond immediately to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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