US Senator Bob Menendez faces new charges

US Senator Bob Menendez has been accused in a new federal indictment of accepting bribes from Qatar—the second foreign country he is alleged to have improperly aided, BBC News reported.

The latest allegations accuse him of a corruption scheme from 2021-23.

A lawyer for the New Jersey senator said the US justice department claims were "baseless" and "bizarre conjectures."

The indictment unveiled on Tuesday alleges that Menendez accepted gifts, including tickets to see car races, in exchange for comments praising the Qatari government.

The document does not contain any new charges, but includes new details of his and the alleged crimes of his wife—Nadine Menendez.

Mrs. Menendez, who is also charged in the same alleged bribery and extortion scheme, has also pleaded not guilty.

Three New Jersey businessman named in the case have denied charges as well.

The latest allegation extends the alleged plot by one year, and it includes his time as the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee—a post he quit after the initial charges were filed in September.

Menendez, 70, has denied any wrongdoing.

The new indictment claims he assisted one of the accused businessman—Fred Daibes—by making public comments in favor of Qatar in order to help him secure an investment.

Menendez, a Democrat, pleaded not guilty in October to charges alleging he acted as an “illegal agent” of Egypt.

He has faced growing calls to resign, including from his own party, but has so far refused to step aside.