Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is facing a potential 15-year prison sentence after being convicted of 16 corruption charges. Prosecutors have described his actions as a 'grave abuse of power' and are pushing for a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on January 29.
Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, made history by becoming the first person convicted of abusing a Senate committee leadership position and the first U.S. public official found guilty of serving as a foreign agent. The charges stemmed from an FBI raid on his home in 2022, which uncovered $150,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash believed to be bribes from New Jersey businessmen.
Menendez, who was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time of his charges, was forced to relinquish his position and resigned from his Senate seat in August. His defense team has argued for leniency, citing the impact of the conviction on his personal and professional life.
Two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also convicted in connection with the case, with prosecutors recommending prison terms of at least 10 years for Hana and nine years for Daibes. The crimes were said to have taken place between 2018 and 2022.
Prosecutors characterized the case as a 'historical rarity' due to Menendez's abuse of power within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his role as an agent of Egypt. They alleged that Menendez promised to influence foreign relations and subvert the rule of law by interfering in criminal proceedings.
One instance highlighted by prosecutors involved Menendez assisting in granting a meat certification monopoly to Hana's company for exports to Egypt, displacing other certifying companies. They also accused Menendez of promoting Egyptian government interests at the expense of U.S. senators and providing confidential information to Egyptian officials.
Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, is set to stand trial on similar charges after pleading not guilty. Her trial was postponed due to health reasons, as she underwent surgery for breast cancer last year.
