He had already been charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent by secretly aiding the government of Egypt…
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is on the receiving end on more felony charges today. In addition to reportedly colluding with the Egyptian government, the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stands accused of taking payoffs to assist Qatar.
Federal prosecutors say Menendez received lavish gifts from Qatari officials, including luxury watches valued up to $24,000. The updated indictment extends the timeline of Menendez’ alleged corruption scheme into 2023 – a year longer than previously stated.
An earlier indictment in October alleged Menendez “provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.”
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges last fall. Prosecutors indicted the couple on several felonies, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
Menendez participated in the alleged bribery scheme while serving as the chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The couple is also under suspicion following revelations in the October indictment that Nadine struck and killed a man, Richard Koop – feet from his home – while zipping around in a Mercedes-Benz sedan in 2018. She told first responders that Koop leaped in front of her car.
The deference police officers showed Nadine at the scene, their lack of willingness to investigate and the subsequent media blackout led to speculation Sen. Menendez intervened.
A retired officer who arrived at the “accident” can be heard on dashcam footage saying that he came as “a favor.” The New York Times noted that officers never tested Nadine for drugs or alcohol. They released her without a summons.
Days later, investigators appeared at local bars to determine Koop’s activity in the hours leading up to his death:
Mr. Koop’s sister, Rosemarie Koop-Angelicola, said the family never heard a word from Ms. Menendez or the senator after the crash, and little from local authorities.
“The family really has had serious concerns over what we felt was a very sparse, one-sided investigation,” Ms. Koop-Angelicola said in an interview. “Definitely a lack of legal enthusiasm to take this case, definite lack of media coverage, and a lack of communication by the authorities of Bergen County. We felt that the whole thing was very silently swept under the rug.”
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In an interview, a lawyer for Ms. Menendez, David Schertler, called the car crash a “tragic accident,” but one that was unrelated to the charges she is currently facing.
“My understanding was this individual ran in front of her car, and she was not at fault,” Mr. Schertler said.
Meanwhile, the senator refuses to resign, insisting prosecutors have twisted the facts to make legitimate activity appear nefarious.
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