Judge Rules Former United States Senator Robert Menendez Cannot Hold Public Office In NJ

Former United States Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), who is currently serving an eleven year, federal prison sentence, has been permanently barred from holding public office in New Jersey.

Mercer County Court Assignment Judge Robert Lougy made the ruling on Friday.  Menendez, who began his prison sentence last summer, was found guilty on 16 felony counts in a federal corruption trial.

Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey businessmen — Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe — were charged, and found guilty of orchestrating a bribery scheme.  Specifically, Menendez and his wife received, among other things, gold bars, several hundred thousand dollars cash, and a luxury car in exchange for the use of his political influence to benefit Egypt and Qatar.

Menendez’s wife Nadine is scheduled to report to prison in the summer of 2026 after continuing medical treatment for breast cancer.

Menendez is the former Chairman of the powerful, United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee.