Photos of these bars also appeared in the bribery indictment against Menendez and Daibes.
The documentation, including “property release forms,” was signed by Daibes in 2013 to reclaim his stolen valuables. These forms certified ownership and noted that each was stamped with unique serial numbers.
This gives the police a distinct chain of custody that could prove critical in the legal proceedings. It will be difficult for Menendez to claim that the Daibes-owned gold came from another source.
Legal analysts point out that this represents new challenges for the Menendez case.
NBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos remarks, “All of this spells bad news for Sen. Menendez because the chain of custody — it appears — is going to be really easy to prove up.”
Bribery Charges
The narrative deepens as the FBI suggests a quid pro quo arrangement between Menendez and Daibes, involving attempts to influence the New Jersey U.S. attorney’s office during an investigation into Daibes’ bank fraud in 2018.
Menendez has consistently denied any wrongdoing, questioned the existence of a quid pro quo and maintained innocence regarding bribery allegations.
