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Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey is facing additional bribery charges, this time involving the government of Qatar. In a superseding federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday (January 2), Menendez is accused of accepting bribes from New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes in exchange for his help getting Daibes millions of dollars from an investment fund in Qatar.
Prosecutors said that Menendez used his position as a Senator to introduce Daibes to a member of the Qatari royal family, who was also in charge of the Qatari Investment Company.
While the Qatari Investment Company was considering Daibes' proposal, Menendez made several public remarks voicing his support for the Qatari government.
"Menendez provided Daibes with these statements so that Daibes could share them with the Qatari Investor and a Qatari government official associated with the Qatari Investment Company," prosecutors wrote in the indictment.
Menendez and Daibes are both facing similar charges relating to business dealings with Egypt. Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, and two other New Jersey businessmen are also facing charges related to the bribery scheme.