Federal agents discovered gold bars in Democrat New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez’s residence during a high-profile bribery investigation. The indictment, unsealed in September, alleged Menendez and his wife’s involvement in a bribery scheme with the Egyptian government and local businessmen, including real estate developer Fred Daibes. Investigators found gold bars at Menendez’s home, and an NBC New York investigation revealed that at least four of these bars could be linked to a 2013 robbery in which Daibes was a victim.
During the 2013 robbery, four assailants beat and robbed Daibes at gunpoint in his New Jersey apartment, stealing 22 gold bars, jewelry, and cash. Each gold bar had unique engraved serial numbers, and Daibes confirmed this in a 2014 transcript obtained by NBC New York, stating, “They’re all stamped … you’ll never see two stamped the same way.”
Evidence photos from the indictment showed gold bars at Menendez’s home, with one bar having the serial number “590005.” Daibes had reported a gold bar with the same serial number stolen during the 2013 heist. The federal indictment also noted that the serial numbers on the gold bars indicated previous possession by Daibes.
The indictment stated, “A court-authorized search of the residence of Robert Menendez and Nadine Menendez … revealed, among other things, approximately two one-kilogram gold bars and nine one-ounce gold bars that had serial numbers indicating they had previously been possessed by Fred Daibes.”
Daibes had reported the robbery in 2013, stating that 22 gold bars were taken. The September indictment mentioned that Daibes sold 22 gold bars to another defendant implicated in the bribery scheme.
Menendez, indicted on bribery charges in September, has consistently maintained his innocence. Despite the allegations, he remained in the Senate and stated on September 25, “When all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator.” He emphasized the importance of the presumption of innocence and the need to uphold the justice system.
While the damnocrats shrug this off in the senate so they can maintain their slim majority, Republicans in the house will eat their own and diminish their slim majority. damnocrats may not agree on anything together but will generally vote straight down the party line. Republicans on the other hand will vote with the damned just to play nice or be seen as non extremist.