Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty of plotting bribery.
On 16 counts connected to a scheme whereby he accepted bribes—gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, among other things—New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty.
Menendez, who was previously the head of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces decades in prison and possibly Democratic party expulsion.
Throughout the eight-week trial, he claimed he was not guilty; his lawyers said the gifts he collected did not fit as bribes because prosecutors had not shown he performed any particular action in response.
Although Menendez’s wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also faces charges in the bribery case, her trial was postponed so she could receive breast cancer treatment. She has entered a not-guilty plea.
His lawyers attempted to assign responsibility to Mrs. Menendez by presenting her as a financially challenged person hoping to “get cash and assets any way she could.”
Bob Menendez was found guilty on all charges by a jury following more than twelve hours of deliberation over three days. Nine weeks made up the trial.
On claims that they sought out the senator to illegally assist the Egyptian government and obtain millions of dollars from a Qatari investment fund, two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, are also under trial.
Third-party businessman Jose Uribe entered a guilty plea and testified against Mr. Bob Menendez during the trial.
Prosecutors used emails, Mr. Menendez’s text messages, and expert testimony at trial to prove the senator embraced extravagant gifts from foreign governments.
Among the presents were gold bars worth more than $100,000 (£79,000).
After most Democrats in the state turned against him when the indictment displaying gold bars hidden in his house was leaked late last year, Bob Menendez is now running as an independent, trying to keep his seat in November’s election.
The senator has prior experience with accusations of government corruption. He was tried in 2017; the justice department claimed he performed political favors for a wealthy Florida eye doctor in exchange for luxury vacations and other extravagant gifts.
However, that case resulted in a mistrial because he was cleared on some counts and the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict.