Former Senator Bob Menendez Receives 11-Year Prison Sentence for Bribery Conviction “`

NEW YORK — A Manhattan court sentenced former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez to 11 years imprisonment on Wednesday. The conviction stems from charges of bribery involving gold and cash, and acting as an agent for Egypt – offenses that reportedly earned him the moniker “Gold Bar Bob.”

Following a tearful statement to the court, where Menendez expressed remorse for his actions and the loss of everything except his family, U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein delivered the sentence.

Judge Stein remarked on Menendez’s previous success and power, highlighting the senator’s apparent deviation from public service to self-interest. The judge emphasized that such actions fuel public cynicism.

The judge noted the lengthy, five-year investigation and the consequences for Menendez: the loss of his Senate seat, chairmanship, and reputation.

Prosecutors initially sought a harsher sentence for the former Democratic senator, who faced multiple charges, including acting as an agent of Egypt in Washington and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

Before sentencing, Menendez emotionally recounted his accomplishments. He pleaded with Judge Stein for a fair judgment, acknowledging past mistakes but emphasizing his contributions.

Menendez’s attorney, Adam Fee, urged the judge to consider his client’s lengthy career of public service and personal sacrifices, acknowledging the negative publicity surrounding the “Gold Bar Bob” nickname.

Prior to sentencing, Menendez’s legal team argued for a sentence under two years, citing his years of service and his ascent from poverty to a prominent political figure. However, after hearing sentences given to two New Jersey businessmen involved in the bribery scheme, the defense revised their request to a maximum of eight years.

Fred Daibes, a real estate developer, received a seven-year sentence and a $1.75 million fine, while Wael Hana, an entrepreneur, was sentenced to eight years, a $1.25 million fine, and a $125,000 forfeiture. Both men expressed remorse and made appeals for leniency in their statements to the court.

A third businessman involved had previously pleaded guilty.

Menendez resigned from the Senate following his conviction last year, losing his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the fall of 2023 upon the charges being revealed.

The trial detailed Menendez’s interactions with Egyptian officials and his actions on behalf of three businessmen who provided him with substantial gifts, discovered during a 2022 raid of his New Jersey home. This included hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars.

Prosecutors alleged that Menendez had accepted bribes in exchange for using his office to benefit Egypt, including protecting a meat certification monopoly and providing information about U.S. Embassy staff.

Further allegations included attempts to influence a federal prosecutor on behalf of a real estate developer and efforts to secure a vehicle for his wife, possibly in return for favors.

Menendez maintained his innocence, asserting that his interactions were standard for a Foreign Relations Committee chair and that he prioritized American interests. He denied the bribes and claimed the gold belonged to his wife.

Nadine Menendez faces trial in March on similar charges, while battling breast cancer.

Menendez’s lawyers emphasized the significant personal and professional consequences he had already endured, including reputational damage and financial ruin.

Court documents detailed Menendez’s lengthy career of public service, which included overcoming hardship, serving as mayor, state legislator, and U.S. Representative before his Senate tenure.

The former senator is notable for being the only U.S. senator to face indictment twice. A previous case involving accusations of bribery related to a Florida eye doctor resulted in a hung jury and was later dropped.