Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison

The former New Jersey Senator has been sentenced for his bribery conviction.

U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein sentenced former Senator Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes in the form of cash and gold bars while acting as an agent of Egypt and leveraging his political influence for personal gain.

Menendez tearfully addressed the court, expressing that he had lost everything except his wife and sought leniency during his sentencing.

The big picture: Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison term for Menendez, who was found guilty of multiple charges, including serving as an agent for Egypt and selling his political clout for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

  • Menendez portrayed his accomplishments before the court, acknowledging his imperfections and mistakes while emphasizing his positive contributions and asking to be judged within that context.
  • Attorney Adam Fee highlighted Menendez’s lifetime of public service and personal sacrifices, arguing for mitigation in his sentencing.
  • Menendez’s defense team initially sought less than two years in prison for their client, citing his decades of public service and his journey from poverty to achieving the American Dream. However, they eventually requested a maximum of eight years.

Driving the news: The trial detailed Menendez’s connections with Egyptian officials and his involvement in aiding individuals who provided him with valuable gifts, including the cash and gold bars discovered during a raid on his New Jersey residence.

  • Menendez denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his interactions with Egyptian officials were in line with his duties as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and always prioritized American interests.
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