New York: Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted on 16 counts of bribery and corruption. The charges stemmed from his acceptance of gifts, including gold bars, cash, and a luxury car, in exchange for assisting foreign governments. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence due to the severity of the crimes, while Menendez’s lawyers pushed for a lighter sentence with community service.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, before sentencing, Judge Sidney Stein told Menendez he had become ‘a corrupt politician.’ Menendez, 71, broke down in court, saying he had ‘lost everything’ and pleaded for leniency, citing his decades of public service. Two of Menendez’s co-conspirators also received prison sentences. Fred Daibes, a real estate developer, was sentenced to seven years and fined 1.75 million USD for delivering gold and cash to Menendez. Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessperson who facilitated a deal between Menendez and Egypt, received over eight years in prison and was fined 1.25 million USD.
Menendez, who once chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, resigned from the Senate in August. His conviction followed a nine-week trial, where evidence showed he accepted over 100,000 USD in gold bars and more than 480,000 USD in cash, which the FBI found in his home. Prosecutors argued he helped secure millions in US aid for Egypt in return.
Additionally, he was convicted of attempting to influence criminal investigations involving his co-defendants. His wife, Nadine Menendez, was also accused of playing a key role by facilitating bribes and messages between Menendez and Egyptian officials. Her trial was postponed due to breast cancer treatment and is set to begin in March. She has pleaded not guilty.