As reported by The Independent, former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez received an 11-year prison sentence on Wednesday for his involvement in a corruption scheme where he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Egypt while accepting lavish gifts and bribes.
The 71-year-old Democrat, who previously served as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, became the first U.S. senator in history to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. The conviction followed a complex investigation that uncovered gold bars, hundreds of thousands in cash, and luxury items hidden throughout his home.
Federal agents discover extensive evidence of bribery scheme
During raids conducted in 2022 and 2023, federal agents found more than $100,000 worth of gold bars stuffed in closets, over $480,000 in cash hidden in clothing and shoes, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible in the driveway of Menendez's residence. These items were part of an elaborate bribery scheme involving multiple co-defendants.
The investigation revealed that Menendez accepted these bribes in exchange for wielding his political influence to benefit Egyptian government interests. He also interfered with state and federal criminal investigations and helped secure business deals with officials from Egypt and Qatar.
District Judge Sidney Stein addressed Menendez's fall from grace during the sentencing. Before announcing the punishment, Judge Stein told the former senator:
You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system. Somewhere along the way, and I don't know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.
Co-defendants receive significant prison terms for involvement
Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman who connected Menendez with Egyptian intelligence officials, received an eight-year prison sentence. Hana's halal-meat certification business benefited from Menendez's influence in securing an exclusive contract with U.S. officials.
Fred Daibes, a real estate developer who provided Menendez with gold and cash, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The investigation showed that Daibes sought Menendez's help in interfering with a criminal investigation and securing Qatari investors for his development projects.
Jose Uribe, an insurance executive who pleaded guilty, awaits sentencing in April. He admitted to giving Menendez and his wife a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator's interference in a state fraud investigation.
Former senator maintains innocence despite overwhelming evidence
Throughout the legal proceedings, Menendez maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the conviction. Before receiving his sentence, he tearfully addressed the court:
Your honor, I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. I've done far more good than bad. I ask you, your honor, to judge me in that context.
The case has particularly significant implications for Menendez's wife, Nadine, who faces her own trial in March. Her lawyers have attempted to shift blame onto her, claiming she pressured Menendez to accept the bribes. The upcoming trial was separated from her husband's after she revealed her battle with breast cancer.
Prosecution secured victory in landmark corruption case
Bob Menendez, the former three-term senator from New Jersey, faces 11 years in federal prison after being found guilty of 16 counts, including bribery, extortion, corruption, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt.
The prosecution successfully proved that Menendez accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and gifts in exchange for using his political influence to benefit foreign interests and interfere with criminal investigations. His conviction marks the first time in U.S. history that a sitting senator has been found guilty of acting as a foreign agent.
