Ex-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Head Sentenced to 11 Years in International Bribery Case

​​​​​​​Federal Judge Sidney Stein criticized Menendez, stating that while he "stood at the apex of our political system," he "lost your way" by prioritizing his personal gain over public service.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, once a powerful figure as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday for bribery and corruption charges.

Federal Judge Sidney Stein criticized Menendez, stating that while he "stood at the apex of our political system," he "lost your way" by prioritizing his personal gain over public service.

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Menendez, 71, was convicted in July on 16 charges, including acting as an agent of Egypt, bribery, fraud, and conspiracy. He received bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes Benz car. His wife, Nadine Menendez, faces related charges, but her trial is on hold due to cancer treatment.

Two businessmen involved in the bribery scheme were also sentenced to prison time and fined over $1 million. Another businessman pleaded guilty and cooperated with the prosecution.

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While Qatar was mentioned in the case, it was not directly involved. Prosecutors said Menendez made favorable comments about the country to assist a real estate developer in securing financing.

Menendez resigned as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2023 and stepped down from the Senate the following year, ending his 18-year tenure. He had previously escaped conviction in a 2017 trial on similar corruption charges.

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In court, Menendez pleaded for mercy, describing himself as a "chastened man" and stating that he had "lost everything I ever cared about." His son, Rep. Rob Menendez, attended the sentencing and outside the courthouse, Bob Menendez claimed the process was "political" and "corrupted."

Menendez suggested he might seek a pardon from former President Donald Trump, who has often criticized prosecutions under President Joe Biden as a "political witch hunt."

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Prosecutors stated that Menendez secretly aided the Egyptian government by providing sensitive U.S. government information. They also highlighted a bizarre corruption charge related to his interference with U.S. Agriculture Department policies regarding the certification of halal meat for export to Egypt, benefiting the company linked to the bribers.

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