Former US Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted on bribery and corruption charges.
In July, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts, including accepting gold bars, cash, and a luxury Mercedes-Benz in exchange for assisting foreign governments. Prosecutors had sought at least a 15-year sentence, emphasizing the “rare gravity” of the ex-senator’s crimes. However, Menendez’s defense team requested a reduced sentence with community service.
“Somewhere along the way, you became, I’m sorry to say, a corrupt politician,” remarked US Judge Sidney Stein before issuing the sentence, as reported by CBS News.
Menendez, 71, became emotional in court, stating, “Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about. Every day I’m awake is a punishment.” He pleaded with the judge to “temper your sword of justice with the mercy of a lifetime of duty.”
Seated behind Menendez in the courtroom were his son, Democratic Congressman Rob Menendez, and his daughter, MSNBC anchor Alicia Menendez.
On the same day, two of Menendez’s co-conspirators received prison sentences:
Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer who allegedly supplied gold and cash to Menendez, was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $1.75 million.
Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman accused of brokering deals between Menendez and the Egyptian government, was sentenced to over eight years and fined $1.25 million.
Prosecutors presented extensive evidence over a nine-week trial, including more than $480,000 in cash and gold bars valued at over $100,000, found in Menendez’s home by FBI agents. In return, Menendez allegedly helped secure millions in U.S. aid for Egypt.
Menendez has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal the conviction. His legal team argued that the gifts he received did not meet the legal definition of bribes and insisted that prosecutors failed to prove a direct link between the payments and Menendez’s actions.
The former senator, who once chaired the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, resigned from the Senate in August following the corruption scandal.
Menendez was also found guilty of attempting to influence criminal investigations into his associates, Hana and Daibes. Another businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez. Uribe is scheduled for sentencing later this year.
Meanwhile, Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, is facing charges for allegedly facilitating communication and bribes between Menendez, his co-defendants, and Egyptian officials. Her trial was postponed due to her undergoing breast cancer treatment and is set to begin in March. She has pleaded not guilty.
Despite his conviction, Menendez continues to maintain his innocence, vowing to fight the charges in court.