Will Rob Menendez ever escape the shadow of his dad, Senator Bob Menendez? New Jersey rep Robert Jr is seeking a second term – while Robert Sr or ‘gold bar Bob’ is in the middle of a corruption trial

May 31 , 2024

Who is US representative Robert Menendez of New Jersey ... and why is his father now nicknamed “gold bar Bob”? Photo: @repmenendez/Instagram

The senior Menendez and his wife Nadine have been charged with benefiting Egypt and using his position to ‘meddle’ in criminal cases in New Jersey in exchange for cash, a car and gold bars

Rob Menendez has been criticised for defending his father by former ally and political opponent Ravi Bhalla – a super PAC backing her released an ad reading, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’

New Jersey congressman Robert “Rob” Menendez Jr is facing his biggest political challenge yet – and it’s all because of his father.

Rob Menendez at the town of Kearny speaking about the Portal North Bridge project. Photo: @repmenendez/Instagram

Just three days after Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez Sr – Rob’s father – was indicted on bribery charges in September 2023, Rob announced that he would be running for a second term in Congress.

Rob benefited from the influence of his father when he ran for a seat in New Jersey’s eighth congressional district in 2022. Now, with his senator dad in the midst of a juicy corruption trial, and the Democratic primary in New Jersey being held on June 4, Rob’s future is in the balance.

Here is what you need to know about the Menendez fallout.

How did Rob Menendez get into politics?

Rob Menendez with his wife and two children. Photo: @repmenendez/Instagram

Rob, who is married with two children, seemingly spent his life being prepped for a political career. According to New York Magazine, Rob was barely a year old when his father was made mayor of Union City, in 1986. By the time Rob was attending high school, his father’s political influence had grown so much that Bob was even punted as a potential running mate to then presidential candidate Al Gore, per the New Jersey Globe.

Rob then went to the University of North Carolina and graduated from Rutgers Law School. He did a fellowship at the Port Authority before practising at the well-known Lowenstein Sandler law firm, according to Politico. He was elected to Congress in 2022.

Senator Bob Menendez’ political downfall

US Senator Robert Menendez Sr is accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a car to help three businessmen and the Egyptian government, and is charged with acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

The corruption trial against Menendez Sr is currently underway in Manhattan. Bob, his wife Nadine and two New Jersey businessmen have been charged with conspiring to use the politician’s position to help the government of Egypt and “meddle” in criminal cases in New Jersey, per The New York Times. Bob and his wife are accused of accepting bribes – including cash, cars and gold bars.