Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, 71, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for accepting nearly $1 million in bribes. These bribes included cash, gold bars, and a luxury car. Prosecutors described this as one of the most blatant corruption cases in U.S. history.
Menendez was convicted of taking bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. In return, he used his position to assist them in securing deals with officials from Egypt and Qatar. Evidence showed that he facilitated military aid to Egypt and provided sensitive U.S. information. This makes him the first U.S. official convicted of acting as a foreign agent.
During sentencing, Menendez tearfully defended his decades-long public service, stating, “I believe that in a half-century of public service I’ve done far more good than bad.” Despite his conviction, he plans to appeal.
His co-conspirators also received prison sentences. Fred Daibes was sentenced to seven years and two months, while Wael “Will” Hana received eight years and one month. Another businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty earlier and is expected to testify against Menendez’s wife, Nadine, in her upcoming trial.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Menendez, arguing that his actions severely undermined public trust. They noted that few senators have been convicted of any criminal offense, and those who were accepted amounts far less than what Menendez received.
Menendez’s defense team argued for no prison time or a reduced sentence, claiming that his political efforts were legitimate and that he was unaware of his wife’s dealings. They portrayed the case as an overreach.
This is not Menendez’s first encounter with corruption charges. In 2017, he faced bribery charges, but the case ended in a mistrial. The Senate Ethics Committee later reprimanded him for failing to disclose expensive gifts from a donor.
Menendez is currently free on bond as he appeals his 15 felony convictions, which include bribery, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent. His wife’s trial is scheduled for March 18, with prosecutors expecting Uribe to testify against her.
