Convicted in July of last year on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice, former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today in a New York federal courtroom received a sentence of 11 years in prison, according to Christine Sloan of CBS News.
Judge Sidney H. Stein issued the penalty to the disgraced ex-lawmaker.
Menendez will appeal the sentence.
The decision was a win for the feds.
Prosecutors had called for Menendez to serve 15 years, citing “the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes, the immeasurable harm they have caused to the public trust, and the need to deter others from engaging in such egregious abuses of power.”
Menendez’s attorneys wanted the former lawmaker to serve less than two years in prison, “saying their client has suffered financial and professional ruin and deserves mercy because of his age,” according to CBS News.
“The 11-year sentence imposed upon former Senator Robert Menendez was not unexpected given the gravity of the charges and the sentences of seven and eight years imposed upon his co-defendants earlier today,” said InsiderNJ Legal Analyst Joe Hayden. “But it is still a sad event for a man 71-years of age with years of public service. The Government had asked for a sentence of 15 years and the defense for a sentence of 2 years, but the Judge imposed a sentence closer to that requested by the Government partially because of Menendez’s role as a public official. Defendants in federal custody normally serve 85% of their sentences.”
The shocking case goes back to 2023, when federal prosecutors in New York alleged the New Jersey Democrat accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, a luxury car, mortgage payments and more in exchange for the senator’s political clout. From ABC News: “Three New Jersey businessmen who were also charged, along with the governments of Egypt and Qatar, were the alleged recipients.”
Menendez pleaded not guilty to 16 federal charges including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction.
But after deliberating for 14 hours, the jury on July 16th rejected his defense, finding the senior U.S. Senator guilty, not only of enriching himself, but of acting as a foreign agent, a stunning plummet from grace going back to when then-Governor Jon Corzine tapped him to replace him in the U.S. Senate, to the disgrace of Menendez’s first indictment, to the semi-redemption of a hung jury, to full-bore disgrace and the strong possibility now of hard time.
“This was politics for profit,” said Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York outside the courthouse. “[Menendez’s] years of selling his office to the highest bidder have come to an end.”
According to the Associated Press today, “Bob Menendez fought through tears in a courtroom speech aimed at winning leniency from a judge sentencing the former U.S. senator for his bribery conviction after gold bars and cash were found in his home by the FBI. …Given a chance to speak before he was sentenced, Menendez broke down several times as he described accomplishments in his life.”
In addition, MSNBC reported today that Menendez is appealing to President Donald J. Trump for clemency.
Menendez resigned his United States Senate seat in August of last year, and in November of 2024, Andy Kim – like Menendez, a Democrat – won the Senate seat in a statewide general election.
Kim ran as a corruption buster.
“I often tell people that the opposite of democracy is apathy – a sense of helplessness, that your voice or vote won’t matter,” he said on the campaign trail. “When leaders take bribes in exchange for political favors, they shatter the trust with the folks they represent. People lose faith. The corruption fosters apathy. That’s why I’ve made ending corruption a pillar of my work and my campaign. I don’t take corporate PAC money, relying on the power of grassroots donors to fuel our work.
“In Washington, I’m leading the charge on strengthening campaign finance and ethics reforms, ending gerrymandering, and protecting voting rights. I’m also pressing on to stop Members of Congress and Senators from being able to buy and trade individual stocks. You deserve to know that your elected representatives are looking out for your best interest, not their stock portfolio.”
Photo of Menendez by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack.
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Senator Robert Menendez, a prominent political figure in New Jersey, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in an insider trading scandal. The scandal, which rocked the political world in New Jersey, involved Menendez using his position as a senator to gain insider information and make profitable trades on the stock market.
Menendez was found guilty of using his influence to secure lucrative government contracts for a close friend and donor, in exchange for gifts and campaign contributions. The senator’s actions were seen as a clear abuse of power and a violation of the public trust.
The sentencing of Menendez sends a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in politics. It serves as a reminder that public officials are held to a higher standard and must act in the best interest of the people they serve.
The scandal has tarnished Menendez’s reputation and has raised questions about the integrity of other politicians in New Jersey. It serves as a cautionary tale for those in positions of power, reminding them of the consequences of using their influence for personal gain.
The 11-year prison sentence handed down to Menendez is one of the harshest penalties ever imposed on a sitting senator. It serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in corrupt practices, that they will be held accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the sentencing of Senator Menendez for his involvement in the insider trading scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethics and integrity in politics. It sends a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated and that those who abuse their power will face severe consequences.
