Bob Menendez hooked up bribe-paying NJ businessman with Qatari officials, new indictment alleges
New York PostJan 03
Sen. Menendez Accused of Accepting Qatari Bribes
The Facts
US Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) faces additional allegations of bribery after a federal grand jury on Tuesday filed a second superseding indictment accusing him of accepting items of value in exchange for making positive statements about Qatar.
The indictment alleges Menendez was offered luxury wristwatches worth between $10K and $24K from New Jersey real estate developer and co-defendant Fred Daibes.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Things just keep getting worse for Bob Menendez, whose misconduct is clearly worse than previously imagined. Not only was he bribed into serving as a foreign agent for Egypt, but he also worked on behalf of Qatar in exchange for expensive gifts. Menendez, a caricature of a hyper-corrupt politician who cares about nothing more than enriching himself, is a perfect representation of the modern Democratic Party.
Democratic narrative
Bob Menendez has become a distraction and a disgrace to the Senate and should resign immediately. The Democratic Party is committed to honesty and serving the country, which comes before any partisan affiliation. It's a shame that Menendez engaged in corrupt activities, but the public must know that he's a lone actor and that the party condemns all forms of corruption and bribery.
Nerd narrative
There's an 86% chance that Menendez will still represent New Jersey in the Senate on Feb. 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.