Senator Bob Menendez Convicted in Major Bribery Scandal

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty on 16 counts related to a bribery scheme where he accepted gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz, and other valuables in exchange for aiding foreign governments.

A jury convicted Menendez on all charges after over 12 hours of deliberation across three days, concluding a nine-week trial. Menendez, who previously led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces the possibility of decades behind bars.

Prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have urged Menendez to resign. “Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer stated.

Speaking to reporters outside the New York City courthouse, Menendez maintained his innocence, asserting, “I never violated my public oath. I have never been but a patriot of my country and for my country.”

Menendez’s lawyer, Adam Fee, expressed disappointment with the verdict and vowed to pursue an aggressive appeal. Fee stated, “I was surprised and disappointed with the jury’s guilty verdict.”

Prosecutors described the case as demonstrating “shocking levels of corruption.” Damian Williams, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, remarked, “This wasn’t politics as usual, this was politics for profit. Now that the jury has convicted Bob Menendez, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.”

Throughout the trial, Menendez pleaded not guilty. His defense argued that the gifts he received did not constitute bribes, as there was no proof he took specific actions in return. His wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also faces charges but her trial was delayed for breast cancer treatment. She has pleaded not guilty.

Menendez’s defense attempted to shift blame onto Mrs. Menendez, portraying her as financially troubled and seeking cash and assets. Prosecutors, however, presented expert testimony, emails, and text messages to demonstrate that Menendez accepted extravagant rewards from foreign governments. These included gold bars worth over $100,000, some of which were shown to jurors as evidence.

This is not the first time Menendez has faced federal corruption charges. In 2017, he was tried for allegedly doing political favors for a wealthy Florida eye doctor in exchange for luxury vacations and other lavish gifts.