Former Senator Bob Menendez Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
Former Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for bribery and corruption after he accepted cash, a Mercedes Benz and gold bars as bribes in exchange for helping three businessmen and the Egyptian government.
The conviction marks a dramatic decline for the Cuban-born lawmaker, who started in politics in Union City, New Jersey, and became one of the most powerful senators as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Menendez was convicted last year of 16 felony counts for the long-running corruption scheme, making him the first U.S. senator to be charged and convicted of acting as an agent of a foreign government, CNN reports.
Menendez broke down in tears as he spoke in court. "You have before you a punished man," he told the judge. "Besides my family, I have lost everything I ever cared about," he added. "For someone who spent his entire life in public service, every day I wake up is a punishment."
During the trial, the jury heard evidence that during a search of the senator's home, FBI agents found gold bars and envelopes filled with cash, some inside shoes and in a jacket pocket bearing the senator's name.
In return, prosecutors alleged that Menendez pressured the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a monopoly on halal meat certification that benefited one of the businessmen, he promoted military aid to Egypt and "modulated his criticism" of human rights abuses in the country. He also attempted to interfere in two criminal investigations related to the other two businessmen.
Two others involved were also sentenced today. Real estate developer Fred Daibes was sentenced to 7 years in prison while Wael Hana, who runs a halal certification business, was sentenced to 8 years. Jose Uribe, who pleaded guilty and testified at the trial against the three men, will be sentenced later this year.
Prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan asked that Menendez be sentenced to "at least 15 years" in prison and ordered to pay millions of dollars in forfeiture and fines "to ensure just punishment for extraordinary abuse of power and betrayal of the public trust."
The longtime politician was indicted in September 2023 along with his wife Nadine, but their trials were suspended after she was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment. Nadine Menendez has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in March.
