The senator from New Jersey has been found guilty on all 16 charges
17 july 2024 в 07:37
For months, New Jersey Senator stood trial on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, accused of exchanging political power for bundles of cash, a luxury car, and gold bars.
A 12-member jury on Tuesday found Senator Bob Menendez, 70, guilty on all 16 counts of his federal corruption trial, including accepting bribes in the form of gold and cash from three businessmen from New Jersey and acting as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt.
«I am deeply, deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision. I believe that the law and the facts do not support this decision, and we will be successful on appeal», - Menendez told reporters outside the courthouse on Tuesday. «I have never violated my public oath».
Prosecutors alleged that the New Jersey legislator abused his power to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich his associates, including his wife, Nadine Menendez. This included actions such as meetings with Egyptian intelligence officials and assisting the country in obtaining millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.
«Throughout this trial, you heard that everyone is guilty except Menendez», - prosecutor Paul Monteleone said, accusing the once very influential senator of a «desperate attempt to shift responsibility».
At the end of the nearly six-hour closing argument delivered over two days, the prosecutor repeated the phrase «guilty his wife» five times to remind the jurors that Menendez’s lawyers claimed Nadine «pushed him away» from the scheme and hid the gold bars in her safe without his knowledge.
Menendez had planned to run for re-election to the Senate as an independent candidate, although the guilty verdicts quickly raised the possibility of a vote on his expulsion if he does not decide to resign. He has already faced calls to resign from his former Democratic allies in New Jersey and on Capitol Hill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement saying, «Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign».
Democratic Senator Jack Reed said on X, «He had his day in court and a fair trial. The jury has rendered its verdict. Senator Menendez has been found guilty and should resign».
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tweeted, «Today's verdict […] demonstrates that the senator broke the law, betrayed the trust of his constituents, and violated his oath of office. In America, everyone — no matter how powerful — is accountable to our laws».
Calls for his resignation are the latest in a series of similar appeals since 2017, when Menendez faced a separate set of corruption charges
A 12-member jury on Tuesday found Senator Bob Menendez, 70, guilty on all 16 counts of his federal corruption trial, including accepting bribes in the form of gold and cash from three businessmen from New Jersey and acting as a foreign agent for the government of Egypt.
«I am deeply, deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision. I believe that the law and the facts do not support this decision, and we will be successful on appeal», - Menendez told reporters outside the courthouse on Tuesday. «I have never violated my public oath».
Prosecutors alleged that the New Jersey legislator abused his power to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich his associates, including his wife, Nadine Menendez. This included actions such as meetings with Egyptian intelligence officials and assisting the country in obtaining millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.
«Throughout this trial, you heard that everyone is guilty except Menendez», - prosecutor Paul Monteleone said, accusing the once very influential senator of a «desperate attempt to shift responsibility».
At the end of the nearly six-hour closing argument delivered over two days, the prosecutor repeated the phrase «guilty his wife» five times to remind the jurors that Menendez’s lawyers claimed Nadine «pushed him away» from the scheme and hid the gold bars in her safe without his knowledge.
Menendez had planned to run for re-election to the Senate as an independent candidate, although the guilty verdicts quickly raised the possibility of a vote on his expulsion if he does not decide to resign. He has already faced calls to resign from his former Democratic allies in New Jersey and on Capitol Hill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement saying, «Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign».
Democratic Senator Jack Reed said on X, «He had his day in court and a fair trial. The jury has rendered its verdict. Senator Menendez has been found guilty and should resign».
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tweeted, «Today's verdict […] demonstrates that the senator broke the law, betrayed the trust of his constituents, and violated his oath of office. In America, everyone — no matter how powerful — is accountable to our laws».
Calls for his resignation are the latest in a series of similar appeals since 2017, when Menendez faced a separate set of corruption charges
© Kolganov Andrey
