A federal jury in New York found Nadine Menendez, the wife of disgraced former Sen. Bob Menendez, guilty Monday on 15 charges in a wide-ranging corruption case that also resulted in her husband’s conviction last year.
The judge set a June 12 sentencing hearing for Nadine Menendez. Her husband, the New Jersey Democrat and former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in the case earlier this year.
Matthew Podolsky, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement described Nadine and Bob Menendez as “partners in crime,” saying Nadine Menendez agreed to accept bribes in the form of gold bars, cash and a vehicle.
“Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve,” Podolsky said. “Today’s verdict sends the clear message that the power of government officials may not be put up for sale.”
In exchange for bribes, Bob Menendez promised to approve military aid to Egypt, to pressure the New Jersey attorney general to disrupt a criminal probe and to recommend someone for a U.S. attorney post who he thought he could influence to affect a federal case against a real estate developer, according to prosecutors.
Federal authorities reported finding gold bars and about $486,000 in cash during a 2022 search of a New Jersey residence that Bob Menendez shared with Nadine.
“We are devastated by the verdict,” her lawyer, Barry Coburn, said to reporters outside the courthouse.
Coburn said they respect the court and work of the jury, and the possibility of an appeal has not been addressed.
“The case is not over, there will be other days, and we’ll look forward to them,” Coburn said.
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