US Senator Bob Menendez, the once-powerful New Jersey Democrat, was found guilty of bribery, extortion and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt after a corruption trial focused on 13 gold bars, nearly $500,000 in cash and a Mercedes-Benz seized at his home.
A jury convicted Menendez on all 16 counts against him Tuesday after a two-month trial in New York federal court, where prosecutors claimed the lawmaker sold his influence to protect businessmen and promote Egypt’s interests. Menendez, who faces as many as 20 years in prison on the most serious counts, showed no emotion as the jury foreperson said “guilty” again and again.
Prosecutors argued that Menendez’s wife, Nadine, was a key go-between who collected bribes and set up meetings with the businessmen and Egyptian officials. She was also charged, but will face a later trial.
“Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the verdict.
If Menendez doesn’t resign, the Senate could move to expel him. No senator has been expelled since the Civil War, though many have resigned under pressure from party leaders. If Menendez leaves, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, would appoint a replacement until Menendez’s term ends on Jan. 3.
Outside the courthouse, Menendez said he was “deeply disappointed” and that he expects to succeed on appeal.
“I have never violated my public oath, I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country,” Menendez said. “I have never, ever been a foreign agent and the decision rendered by the jury today would put at risk every member of the US Senate in terms of what they think a foreign agent would be.”
The three-term senator was the first member of Congress convicted of being a public official acting as a foreign agent. He was also found guilty of bribery, extortion, conspiracy, honest services wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
Menendez, the senior Hispanic lawmaker in Congress, saw his political support vanish in Washington and New Jersey amid the publicity of the cash, gold and the Mercedes convertible seized by the FBI from his home in 2022. Following the indictment, he resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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