In a landmark ruling that marks the harshest criminal sentence ever handed down to a U.S. senator, former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday. The sentencing, delivered by Judge Sydney Stein, comes after Menendez was convicted last July on 16 federal charges, including bribery, corruption, and acting as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.
The case, which has captivated the nation, revealed a stunning breach of public trust, with prosecutors detailing how Menendez used his position as a powerful senator to enrich himself and serve foreign interests. The sentencing also follows the convictions of two of Menendez’s co-conspirators, who were sentenced earlier today to seven and eight years in prison, respectively, and ordered to pay over $1.2 million in fines.
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Menendez, who once chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was found guilty of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a luxury convertible Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for using his influence to benefit New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government. Prosecutors described the case as one of the most egregious examples of corruption in U.S. political history.
“This was a truly grave breach of the trust placed in Senator Menendez,” prosecutors said during the sentencing hearing. They had sought a 15-year prison term and a $2 million fine, arguing that Menendez’s actions not only betrayed his constituents but also compromised national security. Notably, this is the first time a sitting U.S. senator has been convicted of acting as a foreign agent while holding public office.
In a tearful address to the court, Menendez, 70, expressed remorse and described himself as a “chastened man.”
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Speaking in front of his son and daughter, he said, “Other than family, I have lost everything I care about. Every day I am awake is punishment.”
His defense team argued that Menendez had contributed significant good throughout his life and requested a more lenient sentence of eight years in prison. However, Judge Stein ultimately handed down an 11-year term, citing the severity of the crimes and the need to deter future corruption.
The charges against Menendez stemmed from a years-long investigation that uncovered a web of corruption.
Prosecutors revealed that Menendez accepted bribes in exchange for using his political influence to benefit co-defendants Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, as well as the Egyptian government. Among the most damning evidence were stacks of cash and gold bars found during a 2022 raid on Menendez’s New Jersey home, along with the luxury car gifted to him by one of his co-conspirators.
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Menendez’s co-defendants, Hana and Daibes, were also sentenced earlier today. Hana received an eight-year prison term, while Daibes was sentenced to seven years. Both were ordered to pay significant fines, totaling over $1.2 million.
Menendez’s conviction and sentencing mark a dramatic fall from grace for a politician who once wielded considerable influence in Washington. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, making his actions on behalf of Egypt particularly alarming.
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