Former United States senator representing New Jersey, Robert Menendez is set to serve an 11-year jail term over bribery schemes.
Menendez’s charges included trading influence for cash, gold, and other bribes in exchange for favors on behalf of the Egyptian government.
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, while appearing before a Manhattan federal court, he was found guilty of acting as a foreign agent on 16 felony corruption charges in July 2024.
In August 2024, Menendez was forced to resign from his Senate duties due to mounting pressure from fellow Democrats.
“Menendez, who swore an oath to represent the United States and the State of New Jersey, instead put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes. You were successful, powerful, and you stood at the apex of our political system, and somewhere along the way, and I don’t know when it was, you lost your way, and working for the public good became working for your good,” presiding Judge Sidney Stein said.
Before the passing of the judgment, he first appealed to the court for mercy and lenience in sentencing, citing his record in public service and how he represented US interests.
“Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. You really don’t know the man you are about to sentence; I’ve done far more good than bad. I ask you, Your Honour, to judge me in that context,” he said.
The 71-year-old, before his resignation, had represented New Jersey in the Senate for 18 years since 2006, as well as serving as the chairman of the US Foreign Relations Committee. He also served in the US House of Representatives for 13 years before entering the Senate.
For decades, he has been a forceful voice on US foreign relations and policies, with the most recent being advocating for additional aid to Ukraine and Israel, the US foreign allies, to continue with their wars with Russia and the Middle East, respectively.
