Former Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of bribery and other corruption charges. Menendez, who served in the Senate from 2006 to 2019, was found guilty of accepting bribes and other favors from a wealthy friend and campaign donor in exchange for political influence.
Menendez, 68, was convicted in November of last year of 18 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and other corruption charges. The charges stemmed from a decade-long investigation into Menendez’s relationship with Dr. Salomon Melgen, a wealthy ophthalmologist who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Menendez’s campaigns.
Prosecutors argued that Menendez used his position to influence federal health and trade policies to benefit Melgen, who owned a series of lucrative medical equipment contracts. Menendez also helped Melgen with a visa problem and intervened with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to help Melgen secure a lucrative contract.
Menendez denied any wrongdoing, but a jury found him guilty of all 18 counts. The judge who presided over the trial sentenced Menendez to 11 years in prison, which is near the maximum sentence allowed under federal guidelines.
Menendez’s conviction and sentencing marked a rare criminal prosecution of a high-ranking politician in the United States. Menendez’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said the senator will appeal the conviction, arguing that the prosecution was unfair and that the evidence presented was insufficient.
Menendez resigned from the Senate in January 2019, citing the cloud of scandal that had surrounded him for years. He was succeeded by Democrat Cory Booker, who won a special election to fill the seat.
Menendez’s sentencing comes at a time when the United States is grappling with a growing epidemic of political corruption. The prosecution of Menendez was seen as a major victory for the Department of Justice, which has vowed to crack down on corruption and restore public trust in government.
