Sen. Menendez found guilty of all counts in bribery, fraud trial

A Manhattan jury convicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., of 16 federal charges in a foreign bribery scheme, including extortion, bribery, and wire fraud. The senator’s co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also convicted on all charges against them. The judge scheduled the trio to be sentenced on Sept. 29. Menendez’s charges, in total, could land him a maximum sentence of more than 200 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The senator plans to appeal the verdict.

Will Menendez resign now? In light of the verdict, Menendez must do what’s right for his constituents and our country and resign from office, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote. Menendez’s likely replacement, Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., also called on the senator to step down soon after the verdict. Menendez resisted calls to leave office for months and even vowed to run for reelection as an independent Democrat after the trial.

What kind of bribery and fraud did he commit? The government charged Menendez and his wife, Nadine, after finding gold bars, over $480,000 in cash, and a Mercedes-Benz at their New Jersey home during an FBI raid in 2022. Prosecutors alleged that three businessmen bribed the couple to benefit themselves and the Egyptian government. Menendez pleaded not guilty, maintaining he and his wife are innocent.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the trial’s closing arguments last week.