OAN Staff Avril Elfi
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 10:40 AM
The judge found Senator Bob Menendez guilty of bribery conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.
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On Tuesday, Menendez, DN.J., was found guilty of 16 charges in a Manhattan, New York courtroom, including:
- Three counts of conspiracy to commit bribery
- four counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud;
- Four counts of extortion conspiracy
- Three counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice
- Two counts of conspiracy by public officials to act as foreign agents.
Senator Menendez is facing pressure to step down before his term ends at the end of the year after becoming the seventh sitting senator to be convicted of a federal crime by a 12-judge jury from New York.
According to the indictment, Menendez praised the Qatari government in a press release in August 2021 and sent a text message saying, “Maybe you should send this to them. I’m on my way to releasing you.”
The following month, co-defendant Fred Dibes texted a photo of an expensive watch, valued at $23,990, to Menendez, who was attending a private event hosted by the Qatari government in Manhattan.
Two days later, Mr. Menendez texted Mr. Dives a link to a website tracking the Senate resolution supporting Qatar.
“I hear a friend of mine is planning to visit you on the 15th,” the indictment said in January 2022, when the senator messaged the Qatari investor before meeting with Diabeth to discuss a potential investment.Number “This is the first time we have had contact with the US government since this month. We hope that this agreement will lead to a favorable, mutually beneficial agreement that has been discussed between the two parties.”
In May, Qatari officials provided four tickets to the 2022 Formula One Grand Prix to Nadine Menendez’s next of kin, at the senator’s request.
A Qatari investment fund signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Dibes’ company that same month after a meeting between Dibes and two Qatari government officials, after which the indictment alleges Dibes “gave gold bars to Menendez.”
Qatar Investment Company formally joined Daibes last year, investing tens of millions of dollars.
The senator was convicted of failing to list gifts, gold bars and horse racing tickets he received from Qatar and Dibes on financial disclosure forms.
Menendez is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29.NumberBut he maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the sentence.
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