US senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty of receiving bribes in the form of cash, gold, and a luxury vehicle from three businessmen based in New Jersey. The verdict was announced on Tuesday at a federal court in New York City.
During the nine-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the New Jersey Democrat misused his office to shield his allies from criminal investigations and to benefit his associates, including his wife.These actions included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and assisting Egypt in accessing millions of dollars in US military aid.
“It’s obvious that the government’s case is not as simple as they made it to be,” Menendez said before repeating himself. “It’s not as simple as they made it to be. The jury’s finding that out.”
Menendez, who is 70 years old, did not take the stand during the trial. He maintained publicly that he was merely fulfilling his responsibilities as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He claimed that the gold bars discovered by the FBI in his New Jersey residence belonged to his wife.
The senator is being tried alongside two businessmen from New Jersey, all of whom have pleaded not guilty. A third businessman pleaded guilty prior to the trial and testified against Menendez and the other defendants.
Nadine, Menendez’s wife, was also charged, but her trial has been delayed as she recovers from surgery for breast cancer.
In 2022, FBI agents raided Menendez’s home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, where he lived with his wife. They seized gold bars valued at nearly $150,000 and more than $480,000 in cash, some of which was hidden inside boots and jackets bearing the senator’s name.
As he exited the courthouse on Monday, Menendez expressed some optimism that the jury was thoroughly examining the evidence during their deliberations. The jury had asked questions about the charges in two separate notes, including one instance where they inquired if unanimity was necessary to acquit “on a single count.”
During the closing arguments last week, attorneys spent over 15 hours urging the jurors to carefully review the evidence.
Prosecutors pointed to numerous examples where they claimed Menendez assisted the businessmen. They also contended that his efforts to expedite $99 million in helicopter ammunition to Egypt, along with his friendly communications with high-ranking Egyptian officials, demonstrated that he was acting as an agent for Egypt’s interests.
Menendez’s attorneys maintained that the senator never took bribes and that the actions he took to help the businessmen were the types of tasks expected of a public official. They argued that he was simply carrying out the foreign responsibilities associated with his position as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a role he was compelled to give up after the charges were filed.
Menendez announced his intention to run for reelection this year as an independent candidate several weeks ago.
The conviction, which comes just four months before the election, likely destroyed any chance Menendez had of running for reelection as an independent candidate.
During the nine-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the New Jersey Democrat misused his office to shield his allies from criminal investigations and to benefit his associates, including his wife.These actions included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and assisting Egypt in accessing millions of dollars in US military aid.
“It’s obvious that the government’s case is not as simple as they made it to be,” Menendez said before repeating himself. “It’s not as simple as they made it to be. The jury’s finding that out.”
Menendez, who is 70 years old, did not take the stand during the trial. He maintained publicly that he was merely fulfilling his responsibilities as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He claimed that the gold bars discovered by the FBI in his New Jersey residence belonged to his wife.
The senator is being tried alongside two businessmen from New Jersey, all of whom have pleaded not guilty. A third businessman pleaded guilty prior to the trial and testified against Menendez and the other defendants.
Nadine, Menendez’s wife, was also charged, but her trial has been delayed as she recovers from surgery for breast cancer.
In 2022, FBI agents raided Menendez’s home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, where he lived with his wife. They seized gold bars valued at nearly $150,000 and more than $480,000 in cash, some of which was hidden inside boots and jackets bearing the senator’s name.
As he exited the courthouse on Monday, Menendez expressed some optimism that the jury was thoroughly examining the evidence during their deliberations. The jury had asked questions about the charges in two separate notes, including one instance where they inquired if unanimity was necessary to acquit “on a single count.”
During the closing arguments last week, attorneys spent over 15 hours urging the jurors to carefully review the evidence.
Prosecutors pointed to numerous examples where they claimed Menendez assisted the businessmen. They also contended that his efforts to expedite $99 million in helicopter ammunition to Egypt, along with his friendly communications with high-ranking Egyptian officials, demonstrated that he was acting as an agent for Egypt’s interests.
Menendez’s attorneys maintained that the senator never took bribes and that the actions he took to help the businessmen were the types of tasks expected of a public official. They argued that he was simply carrying out the foreign responsibilities associated with his position as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a role he was compelled to give up after the charges were filed.
Menendez announced his intention to run for reelection this year as an independent candidate several weeks ago.
The conviction, which comes just four months before the election, likely destroyed any chance Menendez had of running for reelection as an independent candidate.