Dem. Sen. Bob Menendez Found Guilty On All Charges in Federal Corruption Trial

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and two of his business associates were found guilty on all charges Tuesday after a nine-week long federal corruption trial in Manhattan.

Menendez was charged with accepting bribes in exchange for helping foreign governments, a crime similar to what the Biden family has been accused of doing for decades.

During the trial, prosecutors used cited emails and text messages from Menendez – as well as FBI testimony – to present evidence they argued shows the senator accepted extravagant gifts from foreign governments. The gifts totaled more than $100,000 worth of gold bars, in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash stuffed throughout Menendez’s New Jersey home.

In his closing argument, federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni urged jurors to hold the senator accountable for his alleged misconduct.

“This is a big case,” Monteleoni said. “But it all boils down to a classic case of corruption on a massive scale.”

After deliberating for three days, the jury found the trio guilty on all 16 counts, Fox News reported.  Menendez, who had pleaded not guilty, faces a sentence of more than 200 years in prison, although it’s unlikely he’ll be hit with such a heavy sentence.

The senator’s sentencing date has been set for Oct. 29.

“This case has always been about shocking levels of corruption. This wasn’t politics as usual, this was politics for profit,” said U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York Damien Williams at a brief press conference outside the courtroom following the verdict. “Years of selling [Menendez’] office for profit has finally come to an end.”

In response to the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Menendez to resign.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) also called on Menendez to resign.

“Senator Menendez received a fair trial and due process of law as he was entitled to under our Constitution. I want to thank all the public servants who play crucial roles in our criminal justice system, including our law enforcement officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys, jurors, and judges. Their hard work ensured that these brazen crimes were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and our nation is grateful for their service,” Murphy said.

“I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately,” he added.