NEWARK, NJ – Recent allegations have surfaced against Senator Bob Menendez, involving bribery and corruption. Prosecutors have accused Menendez of accepting bribes, including cash and gold bars, from a New Jersey real estate developer. In return, Menendez allegedly promised to facilitate a multi-million dollar investment by a Qatari company in the developer’s project.
This accusation is part of a larger superseding indictment against Menendez, which does not add new charges but reveals the Qatar-related allegations. Menendez is already facing four charges over his alleged assistance to the Egyptian government. The indictment suggests that Menendez was involved in bribery acts as recently as 2023.
One specific instance cited in the indictment involves Menendez allegedly drafting positive remarks about Qatar in a press release and communicating them through an encrypted messaging app to the developer, Fred Daibes. Daibes is then said to have forwarded these remarks to a Qatari official while the Qatari investment company was considering investing in his project. Menendez, along with his wife Nadine, who is also charged, allegedly received gold bars from Daibes. The Senator is also accused of encouraging the Qatari company’s deal with Daibes, attending a secret dinner with Qatari representatives, and requesting Formula One Grand Prix tickets from a Qatari official.
Menendez has not declared any of these gifts or payments on his Senate disclosure forms. His original charges in the fall involved allegations of accepting bribes to benefit the Egyptian government. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to these charges, with his trial scheduled for May.
Regarding Menendez’s past legal challenges, a 2017 investigation probed his ties with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist. They were indicted in connection with a bribery scheme where Menendez allegedly accepted gifts from Melgen in exchange for using his Senate office to benefit Melgen’s financial and personal interests. The allegations included Menendez accepting luxury vacations, flights on private jets, and campaign contributions from Melgen. In return, Menendez reportedly lobbied senior officials in the Obama administration to assist Melgen in various matters. Melgen was later sentenced to 17 years for defrauding Medicare of $73 million.