After a nine-week trial in Manhattan, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and two of his business associates, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, have been found guilty on all charges in the federal corruption trial.
The jury's decision comes after Menendez pleaded not guilty to federal charges of accepting bribes in exchange for aiding foreign governments, a crime that could potentially lead to a sentence of up to 200 years in prison.
In response to the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to X (Twitter) and called for Menendez's resignation.
In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 16, 2024
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Throughout the trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence, including emails, text messages, and FBI testimony, which they argued showed that Menendez accepted extravagant gifts from foreign governments, totaling more than $100,000 worth of gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash stashed throughout his New Jersey home.
During his closing argument, federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni emphasized the severity of the case, stating, "This is a big case. But it all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale."
The charges against Menendez and his associates stem from a multi-year alleged bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
These allegations, which also include acting as a foreign agent and accepting bribes, were further compounded when co-defendant Jose Uribe, who allegedly gifted Menendez's wife a Mercedes convertible, accepted a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
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Menendez and his associates first faced charges on September 23, 2023, and the sentencing date for the senator has been scheduled for October 29.
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