In a major blow to the veteran Democratic senator, a federal jury in Manhattan has found Senator Bob Menendez guilty on all 16 criminal counts he faced, including bribery, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent.
The charges stemmed from a lengthy investigation that uncovered a bribery scheme in which Menendez allegedly used his political influence to benefit Egyptian and Qatari interests in exchange for substantial personal kickbacks. Prosecutors presented evidence that Menendez and his wife Nadine received gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, a luxury Mercedes-Benz, and other illicit payments from three businessmen – Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and Jose Uribe.
In return, Menendez was accused of leveraging his position as a powerful senator, including his role as former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to advocate for the foreign governments’ agendas. This included securing a halal certification monopoly for one of the businessmen in Egypt, pushing Egypt’s interests in the Senate, and facilitating lucrative real estate deals with Qatari investors.
The jury deliberated for over 12 hours before unanimously convicting Menendez, Hana, and Daibes on all charges. Prosecutors successfully argued that Menendez prioritized personal gain over his duty to his constituents and the nation.
Menendez’s defense team had contended that the senator was unaware of the corrupt schemes orchestrated by his wife and co-defendants, portraying him as a victim. However, the prosecution alleged that Nadine Menendez acted as a conduit, facilitating communication and the flow of illicit payments between the conspirators and her husband.
This verdict marks the second time Menendez has been convicted on federal corruption charges, with the previous trial in 2018 ending in a mistrial. The senator now faces a potential sentence of up to 222 years in prison, though the sentences will likely run concurrently.
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The conviction comes just months before Menendez was set to run for reelection as an independent candidate in New Jersey. Some fellow Democrats have already called for his resignation, though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stopped short of doing so.
The outcome of this trial could have significant political implications, potentially reshaping the Senate race in New Jersey and the balance of power in the chamber. Menendez’s future remains uncertain as he awaits sentencing and contemplates the next steps in his legal and political battles.