Disgraced, former, Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to eleven years in prison for corruption, bribery and acting as an agent for Egypt, plus three years of supervision following his release. The 71-year old Menendez was sentenced in Manhattan U.S. District Court by the Hon. Sidney Stein.
Prosecutors had been seeking as much as fifteen years behind bars, but today reduced their request to no more than eight years.
Judge Stein told Menendez during today’s sentencing, “You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system. Somewhere along the way, and I don’t know when it was, you lost your way and working for the public good became working for your good.”
Before his sentence was announced, Menendez begged the judge for consideration of his long years of public service. He said, “You really don’t know the man you are about to sentence.”
Menendez, along with Edgewater developer Fred Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana, were convicted last July. Their charges were related to a scheme whereby Menendez and his wife Nadine were foud guilty of receiving cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for using his powerful influence. Menendez, at the time, was the Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Menendez had been found guilty of a total of 16 counts.
Congressman Rob Menendez (D-District 8), the former Senator’s son, and Alicia Menendez, his daughter, were both in the courtroom for their father’s sentencing.
Judge Stein sentenced Daibes to seven years in prison and a $1.75 million fine, while Hana was sentenced to over eight years in prison and a $1.3 million fine.
Nadine Menendez, who is suffering from breast cancer, and faces bribery and corruption charges, faces trial beginning in March.
Menendez’s attorneys plan to appeal the verdict. He must turn himself in to law enforcement authorities on June 6th, allowing him time to be with his ill wife.
This is so sad My heart goes out to his entire family especially to the fact that he helped so many people in Hudson County I hope the get the real corrupt politicians in Hudson County and Hoboken
Please appeal because he a good man😢😘🙏🏾🤦🏽♀️