(PatriotNews.net) – Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, was found guilty on Tuesday on all 16 counts after a two-month criminal trial. The charges included corruption, bribery, obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent, and conspiracy.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, who is currently battling breast cancer, were indicted in September. They were accused of taking bribes from three businessmen in return for actions Menendez took as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the Department of Justice, these bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.
In a revised indictment, prosecutors also claimed that Menendez used his influence to help a friend secure a multi-million dollar investment deal from the Qatari government. He did this by taking actions that benefited Qatar.
One of the co-conspirators, Jose Uribe, a businessman from New Jersey, testified that he bribed Menendez. Uribe said he did this so that Menendez would pressure prosecutors not to pursue criminal cases against Uribe and his business associates.
“I agreed with Nadine Menendez and others to provide a car for Nadine to get the power and influence of Mr. Menendez,” Uribe testified. He said the bribe was intended “to help me get a better resolution for one of my associates who was being charged in a criminal matter and to stop investigations that could lead to my daughter and family members.”
Menendez, who is 70 years old, could spend the rest of his life in prison. Eight of the counts he was convicted of each carry a potential 20-year prison sentence.
During closing arguments, Prosecutor Paul M. Monteleoni said, “It wasn’t enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington. No, Robert Menendez wanted all that power, but he also wanted to use it to pile up riches for himself and his wife. So, Menendez sold the power of his office.”
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, who is currently battling breast cancer, were indicted in September. They were accused of taking bribes from three businessmen in return for actions Menendez took as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to the Department of Justice, these bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt.
