Senator Bob Menendez did not address questions about his potential resignation. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 29 and faces a lengthy prison term.
Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty on all counts in his federal corruption trial on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors in New York accused the New Jersey Democrat of accepting substantial bribes, including cash, gold bars, and mortgage payments, in return for political favors.
Also Read:- Elon Musk Publicly Endorses Donald Trump Following Rally Shooting
The alleged beneficiaries of these bribes were three New Jersey businessmen, along with the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Two co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also convicted. The jury deliberated for approximately 13 hours over three days.
Menendez, who pleaded not guilty to 16 federal charges, including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction, expressed his intention to appeal the verdict, calling himself a patriot who has never violated his oath. He denied ever being a foreign agent and voiced concerns about the implications of the jury’s decision for all U.S. Senators.
Menendez did not address questions about his potential resignation. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 29 and faces a lengthy prison term.
Calls for Menendez’s resignation came swiftly after the verdict. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other prominent figures like Senator Cory Booker and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged him to step down. Murphy indicated he would push for the Senate to expel Menendez if he refuses to resign.
Also Read:- Assassination Attempt on Trump at Rally Leaves One Dead and Several Injured
The Senate Ethics Committee announced it would expedite its investigation into Menendez’s conduct and consider a range of disciplinary actions, including expulsion and censure.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams condemned the corruption, emphasizing that Menendez’s actions undermined public trust and the rule of law. The prosecution argued that Menendez sold his influence for gold, cash, and other valuables. The FBI discovered gold bars and over $400,000 in cash hidden in Menendez’s home.
Defense attorney Adam Fee criticized the prosecution’s case as “cherry-picked nonsense,” asserting that Menendez’s actions were within his official duties. Menendez himself did not testify, maintaining that the government failed to prove its case.
The prosecution claimed Menendez leveraged his power to benefit Egypt and received a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz in exchange for disrupting a state investigation. The jury was presented with evidence linking co-defendant Daibes to the cash and gold bars found in Menendez’s home.
Menendez’s wife, Nadine, also faces charges but will be tried separately due to a medical condition. This case marks the second corruption trial for Menendez, who previously faced charges in 2015 that ended in a mistrial in 2018.
Also Read:- Dr. Ruth Westheimer: Pioneering Sex Therapist and Cultural Icon Dies at 96
Despite his conviction, Menendez has filed to run as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate and stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following his indictment in September 2023.