After serving a lengthy sentence for corruption and foreign control, former US Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty of operating a bribe and a foreign influence scheme for years on Wednesday. The sentence is the most severe punishment always levied against a sitting or previous US senator.
Menendez, who again chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, broke down in tears as he pleaded for mercy in a New York court.
” I have lost everything”, he told US District Judge Sidney Stein, according to Fox News. ” Another than home, I have lost all I care on. Every time I am alive is abuse. I am far from a great man… in a half-century of public support, I have done much more good than bad”, the original Senator added.
Despite his personal appeal, Stein remained solid, stating,” Somewhere along the way, you became, I’m sorry to say, a crooked politician”, as quoted by The New York Post.
Menendez was convicted in July 2024 on 16 works, including corruption, bribery, crime, and obstruction of justice. In exchange for political favors favored Egypt and Qatar, Menendez and his wife, Nadine, accepted gifts in the form of silver bars, income, and a pleasure Mercedes-Benz.
Federal agents raided the Menendez house in June 2022, discovering almost$ 500, 000 in dollars hidden in closets, letters, and even inside a pair of Forest boots, along with 13 metal bars worthwhile$ 150, 000. Menendez’s girl testified in an effort to explain why the lawmaker kept such large sums of money at home, Menendez’s girl claimed in a statement to The New York Post.
Menendez became the first US senator ever to be found guilty of operating as an illegal foreign adviser while in office as a result of the faith. According to prosecutors, he used his position to recommend for Iranian military assistance, pushed for conducive policies benefiting foreign-linked businessmen, and even attempted to engage in a national fraud case.
His co-defendants, businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also sentenced— Hana to eight years and Daibes to seven. Another co-defendant, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez, detailing how he brilliant Nadine Menendez a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for political favours.
Outside the court, Menendez lashed out at the justice program, calling his faith a “witch kill”. He went further, making a strong allure to former President Donald Trump, stating,” President Trump was best. This procedure is democratic and deeply corrupt. I’m hoping that President Trump restores the system’s dignity and clears up the quagmire,” Fox News reported.
Menendez, who voted twice to impeach Trump, has apparently been lobbying for a pardon from the previous president, though Trump has not commented on the situation.
What’s future?
Menendez was required to report to the national captivity by June 6 according to Judge Stein’s order. His wife, Nadine, is set to go on trial in March after her situation was delayed due to a breast cancer diagnosis. According to Fox News, the prosecution had initially requested a 15-year word for Menendez, alleging that he “put his great company up for sale” and engaged in a corruption scheme of” beautiful brazenness.”
Despite the innocent conviction, Menendez has vowed to charm, maintaining his innocence. His fall from grace, but, appears complete—once a strong senator, he is now commonly known by his infamous name:” Gold Club Bob”.
