Sen. Bob Menendez (DN.J.) was charged in the incident. Second alternative indictment The former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman's legal woes increased Tuesday after he accepted gifts from the Qatari government to help a New Jersey real estate developer secure millions of dollars in investment funding from Gulf states.
The charges are in addition to four criminal charges filed against the longtime New Jersey lawmaker in September and October. Menendez has been charged with bribery, fraud, extortion and acting as a foreign agent on Egypt's behalf, with new charges implicating Qatar.
Prosecutors previously alleged that the senator accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold in exchange for political favors and Egyptian interests for three New Jersey businessmen. Tuesday's superseding indictment adds that Menendez also made statements praising the Qatari government for securing multimillion-dollar deals with real estate developers.
No additional charges are added in the new indictment. Mr. Menendez's wife, Nadine Arslanian, and three businessmen also face criminal charges in connection with the scheme.
The charges in the superseded indictment allege that Menendez introduced real estate developer Fred Deibes to a member of the Qatari royal family in order to facilitate a multimillion-dollar investment deal for Deibes.
Mr. Menendez also issued a press statement praising the country and directed Mr. Duives to send a statement to Qatari officials in an effort that prosecutors characterized as political influence.
of Press release in questionwas published in August 2021 and praised the Qatari government for helping process Afghan refugees attempting to enter the United States after the U.S. withdrawal.
Representatives of the Qatari government subsequently provided Menendez's family with tickets to several F1 races, and Duives gave them at least two bars of gold worth about $100,000 after receiving investment from Qatar. The prosecution argued.
The senator previously pleaded not guilty to charges in September and October and denied wrongdoing. The Hill has reached out to his office for comment.
“The allegations leveled against me are just that, allegations,” Menendez said in September. “I knew this was going to be my biggest fight yet. But as I have said throughout this process, once all the facts come out, not only will I be acquitted, but I will still I strongly believe that he will continue to be New Jersey's senior senator.”
Menendez, who resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after the initial indictment, has rejected growing calls to resign and faces a tough re-election bid in 2024. His incumbent faces a strong primary challenge from New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy. Congressman Andy Kim (DN.J.).
An internal poll conducted by Kim's campaign last month showed him leading Mr. Murphy by 23 points, while Mr. Menendez had just 3% support.
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