Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison following his conviction on bribery and corruption charges.
Menendez, 71, was found guilty last July on 16 counts after a jury determined he accepted gifts, including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for aiding foreign governments.
Prosecutors had called for a sentence of at least 15 years, citing the severity of Menendez’s crimes. His defense team, however, requested a shorter term paired with community service. Before delivering the sentence, US District Judge Sidney Stein remarked that Menendez had “become, I’m sorry to say, a corrupt politician.”
Menendez expressed deep regret before the court, crying as he addressed the judge. “Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about,” he said. “Every day I’m awake is a punishment.” He then requested the judge “to temper your sword of justice with the mercy of a lifetime of duty.”
The courtroom was attended by Menendez’s children, including his son Rob Menendez, a Democratic congressman, and daughter Alicia Menendez, an MSNBC anchor.
Earlier in the day, two co-conspirators in the case were also sentenced. Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer accused of providing gold and cash to Menendez, received a seven-year prison sentence along with a fine of $1.75 million. Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman who facilitated a deal between Menendez and the Egyptian government, was sentenced to over eight years in prison and fined $1.25 million.
Despite the conviction, Menendez has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal. The charges stemmed from a nine-week trial in which jurors were shown evidence that Menendez accepted over $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash. Prosecutors argued that Menendez used his influence to secure U.S. aid for Egypt in exchange for the bribes.
Defense lawyers contended that the gifts did not constitute bribes, as they claimed the prosecution failed to prove Menendez had taken any official action in return for the items. He was also convicted of attempting to interfere with criminal investigations involving his co-defendants, Daibes and Hana.
A third businessman, Jose Uribe, who pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez during the trial, is awaiting sentencing later this year. Additionally, Menendez’s wife, Nadine, has been implicated in the scheme, accused of facilitating the bribery operation. Her trial, delayed due to her breast cancer treatment, is set to begin in March. She has pleaded not guilty.
