US Senator Bob Menendez convicted of corruption, cementing political downfall
- Menendez and his wife were accused of taking bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and car and mortgage payments
US Senator Bob Menendez was convicted on Tuesday on all 16 criminal counts he faced including bribery at his corruption trial, completing the once-powerful New Jersey Democrat’s dramatic downfall.
The jury in Manhattan federal court deliberated for more than 12 hours over three days before reaching a verdict in a trial that had taken nine weeks. Menendez, 70, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included acting as a foreign agent and obstructing justice.
US District Judge Sidney Stein set Menendez’ sentencing for October 29, a week before the November 5 election in which he is running as an independent in a bid for another six-year term in the Senate, but is considered a long shot to win.
After the jury’s foreman read the verdict, Menendez rested his elbows on the table, clasped his hands together, and stared straight ahead. Menendez said after the verdict that he will appeal.
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, immediately called on Menendez to resign to “do what is right for his constituents, the Senate and our country”. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said that if Menendez declines to resign, the Senate should vote to expel him.
The trial centred on what federal prosecutors called several overlapping bribery schemes in which the senator and his wife Nadine Menendez accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and car and mortgage payments from three businessmen who wanted his help.
