New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty on 16 Counts of Bribery Scheme
In a shocking turn of events, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty on 16 counts tied to a bribery scheme where he accepted gifts, including gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for helping foreign governments. The jury convicted Menendez of all charges after more than 12 hours of deliberation over three days following a nine-week trial.
Menendez, who was formerly the head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces the prospect of decades in prison. Democratic lawmakers have called on him to step down from Congress in light of his conviction, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stating, “Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.”
Despite the guilty verdict, Menendez maintains his innocence, stating to reporters outside the courthouse, “I never violated my public oath. I have never been but a patriot of my country and for my country.” His lawyer, Adam Fee, expressed surprise and disappointment with the jury’s decision and vowed to appeal aggressively.
Prosecutors described the case as representing “shocking levels of corruption,” with attorney Damian Williams stating, “Now that the jury has convicted Bob Menendez, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.”
Menendez’s wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also faces charges in the bribery case, but her trial was delayed due to breast cancer treatment. She has pleaded not guilty. Menendez’s lawyers attempted to shift blame to Mrs. Menendez, portraying her as financially troubled and desperate for cash and assets.
The prosecution relied on expert testimony, emails, and text messages to show that Menendez accepted lavish rewards from foreign governments, including gold bars worth over $100,000. Jurors also heard that FBI agents found over $480,000 in cash inside Menendez’s home, some of which was stuffed in envelopes and coats.
Two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, are also being tried on accusations of seeking out Menendez to aid the Egyptian government and secure funds from a Qatari investment fund. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez in the trial.
Despite the guilty verdict, Menendez is currently running as an independent in November’s election to keep his seat. However, many Democrats in the state have distanced themselves from him following the indictment. Democratic Congressman Andy Kim called the verdict a “sad and sombre day” for New Jersey, stating, “The people of New Jersey deserve better.”
This is not the first time Menendez has faced federal corruption charges, as he was tried in 2017 for allegedly doing political favours in exchange for gifts from a wealthy Florida eye doctor. That case ended in a mistrial after Menendez was acquitted on some charges and jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
