The ongoing saga related to charges of corruption against Sen. Bob
Menendez (D-NJ) has gotten even more interesting. The senator is already
facing charges for bribery, and working as a foreign agent for the
Egyptian and Qatari governments without registering. But now, it appears
his overseas relations were more extensive than previously indicated.

A new report suggests that Menendez�s alleged influence peddling not only
involved Egypt and Qatar, but also Albania.

The fast-expanding scandal around Sen. Bob Menendez has centered on his
alleged interventions on behalf of the Egyptian and Qatari
governments�which federal prosecutors claim he made in exchange for
bribes, largely from a halal firm that Cairo granted exclusive rights to
handle its meat supply. But an investigation by The Daily Beast points to
the involvement of another businessman apart from the duo indicted
alongside the senator in September, one linked to a third nation in whose
internal and international intrigues the once-mighty Menendez dabbled:
Albania.

Many of the charges against Menendez center on his relationship with
businessman Wael Hana, who owns a firm named IS EG Halal. It is believed
that the company, through its contract with the Egyptian government, paid
Menendez in cash, gold bars, and other valuables in exchange for the
lawmaker using his position of influence to benefit Hana, Egypt�s
government, and other businessmen.

Apparently, there was more to the operation.

But The Daily Beast has found that IS EG and its dealings with Egyptian
authorities involved another operator on New Jersey�s Manhattan-facing
�Gold Coast�: [Real estate mogul Fred] Daibes� longtime business partner
Gazmend �Gus� Lita. What�s more, during the timeline of the alleged
bribery scheme, Menendez coordinated with an Albanian-American advocacy
group in which Lita was involved, met with the businessman�s brother�then
a member of the Balkan state�s parliament�and repeated talking points
favored by both, including in official statements.

These acts mirror some of those the feds say the senator took on behalf of
Qatar, where Menendez allegedly made multiple positive statements about
the country in exchange for bribes.

Lita was busted in 2022 for running a gambling den for the Albanian mob.
Later, it was revealed that while IS EG Halal, Lita�s employer, was
sending payments to Menendez�s wife, the senator participated in a meeting
with Korab Lita, a member of Albania�s parliament and Gazmend Lita�s
brother. Korab celebrated winning the senator�s endorsement for a series
of electoral reforms he had championed.

The support of a powerful American official would grant incredible clout
to any figure in the small Balkan nation, in which U.S. attitudes hold
enormous sway, and the meeting and its photos earned Korab Lita multiple
news articles in his home country.

The revelation comes after a series of indictments and allegations against
Menendez were filed by the U.S. Attorney in September 2023. He was again
indicted in October 2023 for allegedly violating the Foreign Agents
Registration Act (FARA). He has denied all allegations and indicated that
he still plans to run for reelection.

The addition of the Albanian government to the list of foreign entities
with which Menendez is alleged to have entangled himself creates yet
another dimension to the senator�s legal situation. This new development
brings new light to the extent to which Menendez allegedly went to benefit
from his position as a sitting U.S. senator. At this point, it appears the
indictments will continue to stack up.

https://redstate.com/jeffc/2024/01/24/just-when-you-thought-the-bob-
menendez-saga-couldnt-get-any-worse-a-new-development-surfaces-n2169168