Corruption links/ The MP of the "hamstrings" opposition paid for the meeting with Senator Menendez

2024-01-25 08:31:00, Denoncim CNA

Corruption links/ The MP of the "hamstrings" opposition paid for the

US Senator Bob has been embroiled in a scandal over his interventions on behalf of the Egyptian and Qatari governments, which US prosecutors allege he did in exchange for bribes.

But while an investigation is underway in the USA, the American media continue to reveal facts that deepen the corruption and reach Albania.

The Menendez scandal involves Korab Lita, who accepted and held the deputy's mandate in 2019, when the opposition decided to burn the mandates.

The meeting of Korab Lita

In September 2019, a few months after becoming a deputy, Korab Lita held a meeting with the American senator and later published a photo on his social networks, where he declared that he had received the American "blessing" for the electoral reform in Albania.

" The Daily Beast " tells how this meeting was made possible. According to the American media, the mediator was the businessman brother of the former member of parliament from Lulzim Basha's list, who had paid the senator for the meeting.

It is worth noting that during the search of the apartment of Senator Bob Menendez, hundreds of thousands of dollars were discovered hidden in the furniture of the house, expensive jewelry and some gold bars that were a gift from businessmen.

Corruption links/ The MP of the "hamstrings" opposition paid for the

So, since the real opposition had fled the parliament, the parliamentary opposition, or as it is otherwise known, the "opposition of the hams", which was put at the service of the majority, was looking for legitimacy and the meeting with Menendez made Lita more "wing", even though he was paid from the brother.

Lita's payments to Menendez

Normally, the scandal could not end here.

"The Daily Beast" writes that Lita and his family members who live in the USA have strongly supported Menendez during the electoral campaign, but also in the last 5 years.

In Lita's case, many of the donations have gone through the Albanian-American Political Affairs Committee, and the U.S. senator has collected donations with a maximum value of $5,000 starting in 2021.

Corruption links/ The MP of the "hamstrings" opposition paid for the

The Albanian-American Public Affairs Committee is a branch of the non-profit Albanian-American Civic League. This connection has been financed for two decades by Lita.

The connections of the former MP's brother

Also, the American media writes that Gazmend "Gus" Lita, the brother of the Albanian deputy, was a business partner with friends of the American senator.

Gazment Lita has been investigated by American justice for running a gambling base in the name of Albanian crime.

According to American court documents, he has admitted that he is guilty in 2022, while defense lawyers have stated that Lita had a role that required numerous international trips.

They declined to respond to e-mailed questions from The Daily Beast.

Among other things, this media points out that in a 2023 file related to his conditional sentence, Lita asked for permission to travel to his birthplace in Albania to visit his family.

The businessman stated that he planned to stay with his brother, Korab Lita./ CNA