Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison in a New York federal court following his conviction last July on 16 counts, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice., according to New Jersey Business Magazine.
U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein delivered the sentence. Federal prosecutors had sought a 15-year term, while Menendez's attorneys advocated for a sentence not exceeding 2¼ years. According to an NBC report, sources indicated that Menendez plans to seek clemency from President Trump.
Menendez, 71, resigned from the Senate on August 20.
Governor Phil Murphy remarked, “Today marks the sad end to a long and largely productive career in public service. Senator Menendez accomplished many things on behalf of our state and our residents, but sadly he will be remembered for putting his own interests and financial gain ahead of the public interest. … I want to thank the prosecutors, law enforcement officials, attorneys, judges, and jurors for ensuring that the rule of law was upheld.”
This sentencing concludes an almost 2½-year saga that began with an FBI raid on Menendez's Englewood Cliffs home in June 2022, followed by a federal indictment in September 2023, and a nine-week trial featuring testimonies from 34 witnesses.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, were found guilty of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for the senator using his power and influence to protect and enrich three New Jersey businessmen—Fred Daibes, Wael Hana, and Jose Uribe—and to benefit the government of Egypt. The bribes included cash, gold, home mortgage payments, a Mercedes-Benz, and a low-show or no-show job for Nadine Menendez.
The 16-count indictment found Menendez guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services wire fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, and the major charge of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.
While Daibes, Hana, Menendez, and his wife pleaded not guilty, Uribe pleaded guilty to seven counts and testified against the senator.
Outside the Manhattan federal courthouse on July 16, Menendez expressed disappointment with the jury's decision and anticipated success in the appeals process.
“I have never violated my public oath and have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country,” he stated. “I have never been a foreign agent. … The decision by the jury today puts at risk every member of the U.S. Senate in terms of what they think a foreign agent would be.”
At that time, Governor Phil Murphy commented, “Today’s verdict finding Senator Bob Menendez guilty on 16 counts demonstrates that the senator broke the law, violated the trust of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of office. It also shows that in America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws.”
In 2015, Menendez was indicted for allegedly accepting favors from a Florida eye doctor, including more than $700,000 in political contributions, flights on a private jet, and three nights in a Paris five-star hotel. The 2017 trial ended with a hung jury, and federal prosecutors chose not to retry the senator. However, a Senate Ethics Committee “severely admonished” Menendez. He was reelected to the Senate in 2018 for his third term.
Menendez's political career spanned 50 years.
Born in New York City and raised in Union City, the son of Cuban immigrants began his political journey on the Union City Board of Education from 1974 to 1978, later serving as the board's chief financial officer until 1982. During this period, he graduated from St. Peter’s College in 1976 and Rutgers Law School in 1979.
Menendez was elected mayor of Union City in 1986, serving until 1992, concurrently holding positions in the General Assembly and State Senate. After Congressman Frank Guarini's retirement in 1992, Menendez won the 13th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2003, Menendez was elected chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and chaired the Credentials Committee of the 2004 Democratic National Convention. During the 107th Congress, he led the Democratic Task Force on Education and the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security and was a member of the House International Relations Committee.
He was sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 18, 2006, appointed by Jon Corzine, who vacated his seat to become New Jersey Governor. Menendez won a full term in the Senate that November, defeating State Senator Tom Kean Jr.
After the 2008 elections, Menendez chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2009 to 2011.
In November 2012, he was reelected to a second Senate term, defeating Republican State Senator Joe Kyrillos.
Menendez served as chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position he stepped down from upon indictment. He continued to serve on the committee and on the Senate Banking and Finance committees and their subcommittees.
