Federal Corruption Trial Finds Sen. Bob Menendez Guilty of All Charges, Including Acting as Foreign Agent

Senator Menendez is the initial senator to ever be found guilty of functioning as a representative of a foreign government.

On July 16, 2024, Senator Robert Menendez departed from the court in New York City after the announcement of the verdict. The time was 3:38 PM. The photo was taken by Brendan Mcdermid of Reuters.

Senator Bob Menendez was convicted on all charges on Tuesday in his trial for federal corruption, as reported by ABC News.

According to federal prosecutors in New York, a New Jersey Democrat is accused of receiving bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in various forms such as cash, gold bars, and mortgage payments in return for using their political influence. Additionally, three businessmen from New Jersey were also indicted, as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar, who were said to have received the bribes. Two of the co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were found guilty of all charges against them.

The panel of judges took approximately 13 hours to consider the evidence and reach a decision within a span of three days.

According to Menendez, he has never been a foreign agent, not even once.

Menendez entered a plea of innocence for 16 federal charges, which included bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction. He expressed his intention to challenge the verdict and expressed "profound disappointment" with the jury's determination.

On Tuesday, outside the courthouse, he stated, "I have always upheld my oath. I have always acted as a loyal citizen of my nation and for my nation. I have never engaged in any activities as a foreign agent."

FURTHER DETAILS: What may occur with Menendez's position in the Senate following his conviction?

According to him, the verdict of the jury would jeopardize the safety of all members of the US Senate, based on their understanding of a foreign agent.

Menendez declined to comment on whether he plans to step down from his position.

His sentencing is scheduled for October 29 and he is likely to receive a sentence of several decades in prison.

Image of Senator Robert Menendez exiting court in New York City on July 16, 2024, after the verdict was announced in his trial.

Calls for resignation

Although Menendez may have been convicted, he is not obligated to step down from his position. However, there is a possibility that he could be forced to leave.

The verdict prompted Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York and the Majority Leader, to demand for his resignation without delay.

According to the verdict of guilt, it is now Senator Menendez's responsibility to act in the best interest of his constituents, the Senate, and the nation by stepping down from his position.

Senator Cory Booker, who is the counterpart of Senator Menendez in New Jersey, along with Governor Phil Murphy, have also demanded for his prompt resignation. If the senator refuses to step down from his position, Governor Murphy stated that he will urge the U.S. Senate to remove him from his post.

On July 16, 2024, Senator Bob Menendez arrived at Manhattan federal court in New York City to face charges of federal bribery.

The Senate Ethics Committee has announced that it will expeditiously conclude its investigation into Menendez's behavior, which was initiated when the accusations against him were initially brought to light.

The committee has announced that it will take into account all possible disciplinary measures outlined in the Rules of Procedure, such as expulsion and censure.

Despite being convicted, he is not obligated to resign from his position, but he may face expulsion.

'Alarming levels of graft and dishonesty'

According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who led the prosecution, the verdict was a reflection of the pervasive corruption that was at the heart of the case.

According to Williams, large sums of money in forms of bribes, such as gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, were involved. This was not a typical political situation, but rather a means for personal gain. With Senator Menendez being found guilty, his actions of exchanging his position for money have finally ceased. Corruption has consequences, as it damages the confidence of the public and undermines the principles of justice. This is why we are dedicated to combatting it, regardless of political affiliation.

According to prosecutors, Menendez, who is 70 years old, allegedly offered his influence in exchange for valuable items such as gold, envelopes filled with cash, payments to his wife for a job she did not actually perform, and a convertible Mercedes-Benz. The FBI discovered that Menendez had hidden gold bars and over $400,000 in cash in various locations around his house, including in his jackets and shoes.

During his closing argument on July 8, federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni stated that being one of the most influential figures in Washington was not sufficient for Robert Menendez. He desired to not only possess great power, but also to use it for personal gain for himself and his spouse.

IN-DEPTH: Things to Keep in Mind as the Bribery Trial of Sen. Bob Menendez Commences

The Defense team criticized the DOJ's argument as being based on selective and unjustified claims.

On the other hand, the defense argued that all the actions mentioned in the indictment were within Menendez's job responsibilities, and the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that he received any bribes.

In his final statement, lawyer Adam Fee derided the prosecution's argument as "carefully selected nonsense" and alleged that they manipulated the information.

On July 9, Fee addressed the jury, stating that the only just decision would be to declare the defendant not guilty on all charges. According to Fee, the defendant's actions were legal, typical, and beneficial for the nation.

Menendez chose not to give his own testimony. As he exited the courtroom on July 3, following the conclusion of the defense's presentation, he informed journalists, "In my view, the prosecution has been unsuccessful in proving every element of their case."

According to him, he anticipates his attorneys to deliver a "persuasive and compelling summary" and believes that the jury will deem him innocent.

On June 10, 2024, Senator Bob Menendez departed the federal court in Manhattan after listening to witness accounts during his trial. The photograph was captured by Stefan Jeremiah/AP.

Case Filed Against New Jersey Businessmen and Menendez's Spouse

The jury was informed by prosecutors that Menendez had made a commitment to utilize his authority in order to assist Egypt. The indictment states that the deal was negotiated by Hana, a businessman from New Jersey and a close companion of Menendez's spouse, Nadine. Prosecutors claimed that Nadine had received the senator's aid in maintaining a monopoly on halal meat.

Menendez was also alleged to have been given a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible as a bribe for his assistance in interfering with a case being handled by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

According to prosecutors, during the spring of 2019, Jose Uribe, a New Jersey businessman who has admitted his guilt in the matter, gave $15,000 in cash to Nadine. She used this amount as a down payment for a car. Prosecutors stated that Nadine sent a text message to Menendez, expressing her excitement by saying "Congratulations. We now own a 2019 Mercedes." It was also revealed that Uribe was responsible for making the monthly payments.

The prosecution accuses Senator Bob Menendez of offering his power for sale in the bribery trial.

The senator was accused by prosecutors of making a commitment to a third businessman, Daibes, that he would intervene in Daibes' federal case and assist the government of Qatar by backing a Senate resolution that commends the nation.

According to prosecutors, Daibes and Hana's fingerprints were discovered on the cash envelopes and the serial numbers on the gold bars were traced back to them at Menendez's residence.

Throughout the duration of the two-month long trial, the jury was presented with evidence and witness testimonies, including an explanation from Menendez's sister, Caridad Gonzalez, on why he was found with large amounts of money hidden in his embroidered congressional jacket. According to Gonzalez, it was simply a cultural norm for Cubans.

Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, were seen arriving at a Manhattan court for their arraignment on additional charges in the federal corruption case against them. The couple faces allegations of bribery and corruption. The photo was taken by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.

During the trial, the defense team also informed the jury that Menendez and his wife, who is also a co-defendant, had been living separate lives. It was revealed that she had her own financial worries, which she did not share with her husband.

Daibes and Hana both entered a plea of not guilty for their charges. On the other hand, Uribe admitted guilt and gave testimony against the three defendants during the trial, according to the ABC News report.

Menendez's wife has entered a plea of not guilty for her charges and will face a separate trial in August due to a medical issue. The senator disclosed in mid-May that she is fighting against Grade 3 breast cancer, as reported by ABC News during the start of the trial.

FURTHER INFORMATION: What is the reason behind Menendez's decision to run for Senate as an independent? The opinions of New Jersey Democrats on this matter are revealed.

Second Corruption Case Filed Against Menendez

Since 2006, Menendez has been a senator representing New Jersey. He is the first current member of Congress to face charges of conspiring with a foreign government while serving as a public official.

The independent candidate submitted a petition in June to be included on the U.S. Senate ballot in New Jersey, as reported by ABC News.

Despite the initial indictment in September 2023, he did not agree to resign, but he did choose to step down from his position as the chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The senator has now faced corruption charges twice, with the most recent case resulting in a mistrial in 2018 after the jury was unable to reach a verdict on all counts. This was not the first time the senator had been indicted, with a previous incident occurring in 2015.

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