Menendez accused of scheme involving Qatar in second superseding indictment

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was accused in a second superseding indictment Tuesday of accepting gifts from the Qatari government and for helping a New Jersey real estate developer obtain millions in investment funds from the Gulf country, adding to the former Senate Foreign Relations chairman’s legal woes.

The allegations add to the four criminal charges filed in September and October against the longtime New Jersey lawmaker. Menendez was charged with bribery, fraud, extortion and acting as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt, with the new accusations adding the involvement of Qatar.

Prosecutors previously alleged that the senator accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold in exchange for political favors for three New Jersey businessmen and interests in Egypt. Tuesday’s superseding indictment adds that Menendez also made statements praising the Qatari government in an effort to secure a multimillion dollar deal for the real estate developer.

The new indictment does not add additional charges. Menendez’s wife, Nadine Arslanian, and the three businessman also face criminal charges related to the scheme.

The accusations in the superseding indictment claim Menendez introduced real estate developer Fred Daibes to a member of the Qatari royal family in order to encourage a multimillion dollar investment deal for Daibes. 

Menendez also released a press statement praising the country and instructed Daibes to send the statement to his Qatari contacts in an effort prosecutors characterize as exerting political influence.

The press release in question, published in August 2021, lauded the Qatari government for assisting the processing of Afghan refugees attempting to enter the U.S. after the U.S. withdrawal.

Representatives of the Qatari government later provided a Menendez family member with multiple tickets to a Formula One race, and Daibes gifted him at least two gold bars worth about $100,000 after he received the Qatari investment, prosecutors alleged.

The senator previously pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing to the September and October charges. The Hill has reached out to his office for comment.

“The allegations leveled against me are just that: allegations,” Menendez said in September. “I recognized that this will be the biggest fight yet. But as I have stated through this whole process, I firmly believe that when all of the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey’s senior senator.”

Menendez, who stepped down from his role as Senate Foreign Relations chairman after he was first indicted, has rejected growing calls for his resignation and now faces a tough reelection battle in 2024. The incumbent faces strong primary challenges from New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy and Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

An internal Kim campaign poll last month found the congressman with a 23-point lead over Murphy, and Menendez with just 3 percent support.