NEW YORK CITY – Ex-US senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted on multiple bribery charges. The former New Jersey lawmaker, a longtime figure in the Democratic Party, was found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for political favours, including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz.
Federal Court Sentences Ex-US Senator Bob Menendez
US District Judge Sidney Stein handed down the sentence in a New York City federal courtroom, following Menendez’s conviction in July 2024 on 16 felony charges, including bribery and fraud. Prosecutors argued that he sold his political influence to benefit Egypt and New Jersey businessmen.
Among the bribes found in his possession were 13 gold bars, which FBI agents discovered during a 2022 raid of his home. Prosecutors had pushed for a 15-year sentence, citing the severity of the crimes, while Menendez’s lawyers requested just over two years, pointing to his age (71), public service, and financial ruin.
Co-Defendants and Ongoing Legal Battles
Two co-defendants, New Jersey businessman Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, also received prison sentences of seven and eight years, respectively. Meanwhile, Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, faces a March 18 trial for her alleged role in the corruption scheme. Her trial was postponed due to breast cancer treatment, and she has pleaded not guilty.
Menendez Denies Guilt, Calls for Trump’s Help
Despite the conviction, Ex-US senator Bob Menendez maintains his innocence and vowed to appeal the ruling. Speaking outside the courthouse, he criticized the justice system and appeared to seek support from Donald Trump, calling the case a “political prosecution.”
“President Trump is right: this process is corrupted to the core,” Menendez told reporters.
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