‘Gold Bars’ Democrat Bob Menendez is accused AGAIN this time of accepting luxury wristwatches and other lavish gifts from businessman to benefit Qatar in alleged corruption scheme
- Federal prosecutors accused the New Jersey Democrat of accepting free race car tickets, fancy watches and other plush gifts
- Menendez is said to have accepted gifts from businessman Fred Daibs in exchange for introducing him to the Qatari investment fund
Senator Bob Menendez has been hit with more accusations in his years-long alleged corruption scheme, and this time he is accused of accepting gifts from a businessman to benefit Qatar.
Federal prosecutors accused the New Jersey Democrat of accepting free race car tickets, fancy watches and other luxury gifts from businessman Fred Daibs even when he was chairman and the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Menendez allegedly accepted gifts from businessman Fred Daibs in exchange for introducing him to the Qatari investment fund — which included a member of Qatar’s royal family in the company — according to the superseding indictment.
Prosecutors said the senator also met with Qatari officials and made public statements in support of Qatar while a real estate deal between Daibs and the fund was being negotiated.
In 2023, the Qatari Investment Company completed a joint venture with Daibes worth tens of millions of dollars.
Prosecutors also alleged he took bribes until this year in a superseding indictment that was dropped Tuesday.
Senator Bob Menendez has been hit with a new indictment in his years-long alleged corruption scheme, this time accused of accepting gifts from the Qataris
Bob and Nadine Menendez attend an event in Italy on September 1, 2023
The wristwatches presented to Menendez were worth between $10,000 and $24,000, according to the indictment.
“How about one of these,” co-defendant Fred Daibes is quoted in the indictment, along with photos of the watches.
Daibes, 66, a developer, is also accused of bribing Menendez with gold bars and envelopes stuffed with dollar bills.
According to the indictment, Menendez and Daibes attended a Qatari event together in Manhattan in September 2021.
Two days later, Daibes reportedly texted Menendez about a Senate resolution supporting Qatar, just as the Qatari Investment Company was considering a real estate investment with Daibes.
In May 2022, a Qatari official had offered a “relative” of Menendez’s wife Nadine tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Florida, prosecutors said.
Adam Fee, a lawyer for Menendez, told the AP that prosecutors had no evidence the senator had done anything wrong.
“What they have instead is a series of unfounded assumptions and bizarre suspicions based on routine, lawful contacts between a senator and his constituents or foreign officials. They are turning it into a persecution, not a persecution,” he said.
Menendez, 69, was accused in September of accepting cash, gold bars and gifts, including a Mercedes Benz, from three business owners in exchange for using his “power and influence” to help them.
When the charges were announced, Menendez’s home was raided.
Authorities say they found nearly $500,000 in cash at his home, much of it hidden in clothing and closets.
There were also gold bars worth more than $100,000 in the New Jersey home Menendez shares with his wife.