US senator faces new corruption charges related to Qatar fund

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U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday announced new criminal charges against Sen. Robert Menendez, accusing him of accepting bribes to help the businessman secure investments from a fund tied to the Qatari government.

Menendez has already faced corruption-related charges in the same case, including collusion as an agent of Egypt, accepting bribes and expanding influence in Cairo. He denies any wrongdoing.

He has resisted calls to resign, but in September he gave up his post as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

According to the indictment, the senator paid bribes to assist businessman Fred Dives, who was “seeking millions of dollars in investments from funds with ties to…Qatar,” doing acts that were beneficial to Doha. It is said that he received it.

The paper said Menendez identified Daibes as a member of the Qatari royal family, who was also the president of an unnamed investment company in Qatar.

According to the indictment, “Mr. Menendez made multiple public statements in support of the Qatari government” when the company was considering investing in a real estate development owned by Mr. Dybes.

Duybes has also been charged in the case, has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled for May 6.

The Egypt-related charges allege that Menendez took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey residents between 2018 and 2022 and used his power and influence to “protect, enrich and benefit these businessmen.” He is accused of using the information to obtain Egyptian government.”

During a search of Menendez’s home, investigators said they found more than $480,000 in cash stuffed in envelopes “hidden in clothing, closets, and safes,” according to the indictment superseded Tuesday. Ta.

Some of the cash was found in a jacket with Menendez’s name on it.

The 70-year-old veteran Democrat, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba, has previously denied committing any crimes.