David Bridges
For months, the New Jersey senator has been dealing with trial for conspiracy to commit bribery, accused of buying and selling political energy for wads of money, a luxurious automotive, and gold bars.
A 12-member jury on Tuesday discovered Senator Bob Menendez, 70, responsible on all 16 counts in his federal corruption trial, together with accepting bribes of gold and money from three New Jersey businessmen and performing as a overseas agent for the Egyptian authorities.
“I’m deeply, deeply upset by the jury’s determination. I’ve each religion that the legislation and the information won’t maintain that call and that we are going to achieve success upon enchantment,” Menendez informed reporters outdoors the courthouse Tuesday. “I’ve by no means violated my public oath.”
Prosecutors mentioned the New Jersey lawmaker abused the facility of his workplace to guard allies from prison investigations and enrich associates, together with his spouse, Nadine Menendez. This concerned acts reminiscent of assembly with Egyptian intelligence officers and serving to the nation entry hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in U.S. army assist.
“All through this trial, you’ve gotten heard that everybody is responsible however Menendez,” prosecutor Paul Monteleoni mentioned, accusing the as soon as extremely influential senator of “attempting desperately to move the buck.”
On the finish of a virtually six-hour closing assertion delivered over two days, the prosecutor repeated the phrase “blaming his spouse” 5 occasions to remind jurors that Menendez’s legal professionals have claimed that Nadine “sidelined” him from the scheme and stashed the gold bars in her secure with out his data.
Menendez, who faces sentencing on October 29, maintained that he has by no means been something “however a patriot of my nation and for my nation.”
“I’ve by no means, ever been a overseas agent, and the choice rendered by the jury at present would put in danger each member of the US Senate when it comes to what they suppose a overseas agent could be,” he mentioned.
“His years of promoting his workplace to the very best bidder have lastly come to an finish.”
New York U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams speaks after Sen. Bob Menendez is discovered responsible on all counts in corruption trial. pic.twitter.com/cdrqyr6kbi
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 16, 2024
Menendez was searching for reelection to the Senate as an unbiased, though the responsible verdicts shortly raised the prospect of an expulsion vote except he opts to resign from workplace. He has already confronted calls to resign from his former Democratic allies in New Jersey and on Capitol Hill.
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer launched a press release saying, “Senator Menendez should now do what is correct for his constituents, the Senate, and our nation, and resign.”
Democratic Senator Jack Reed mentioned on X, “He had his day in court docket and bought a good trial. The jury has spoken. Senator Menendez has been discovered responsible and will resign.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy shared on X, “At the moment’s verdict[…]demonstrates that the Senator broke the legislation, violated the belief of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of workplace. In America, everybody – irrespective of how highly effective – is accountable to our legal guidelines.”
The requires his resignation are the newest in a sequence of comparable appeals, relationship again to 2017 when Menendez confronted a separate set of corruption fees.
Clara Hastings
Sophie Langley
