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.
