Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery and corruption, including accepting gold bars and cash in exchange for political favors to Egypt and New Jersey businessmen. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein handed down the sentence in Manhattan federal court, allowing Menendez to report to prison on June 6 after attending his wife Nadine Menendez’s corruption trial in March.
Menendez, 71, who served in the Senate for over 18 years and chaired the Foreign Relations Committee, was convicted in July on 16 felony counts, including bribery, fraud, and acting as a foreign agent—the first such conviction for a U.S. senator. He resigned from the Senate in August.
In a tearful courtroom plea, Menendez acknowledged his downfall, stating, “Other than family, I have lost everything I cared about.” Despite his attorneys requesting a shorter term, prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence, citing his abuse of power.
Prosecutors argued Menendez helped channel military aid to Egypt, assisted Qatar, and intervened in local prosecutions for his allies in exchange for luxury gifts, including gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni described the case as one of the most egregious abuses of political power.
Two co-conspirators, New Jersey businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, were also sentenced—Daibes received seven years, while Hana was sentenced to over eight years.
Menendez’s wife, Nadine, was originally set to be tried alongside him, but her trial was postponed due to breast cancer treatment. She maintains her innocence and will face trial on March 18.
This high-profile corruption case marks a significant fall from grace for Menendez, once a powerful Democratic leader, reinforcing the Justice Department’s crackdown on political corruption.