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Prosecutors Seek 15-Year Sentence for Bob Menendez on 16 Corruption Charges Including Bribery, Extortion, and Acting as Foreign Agent for Egypt

Jan 10, 2025, 04:50 PM

Federal prosecutors have recommended a 15-year prison sentence for former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, following his conviction on 16 corruption charges. Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, was found guilty of bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt. The sentencing recommendation was filed in Manhattan federal court, where Menendez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2025. The charges stem from an FBI raid on Menendez's residence in 2022, which uncovered 13 gold bars, $150,000 in value, and $480,000 in cash, alleged to be bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. Menendez was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time of his indictment in 2023, a position he was forced to relinquish before resigning from the Senate in August 2024. The prosecutors highlighted the historical rarity of the case, noting Menendez's abuse of his committee leadership role and his actions as an agent of Egypt, which they described as an extraordinary attempt to corrupt the nation's core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement. Menendez's defense attorneys have argued for leniency, citing his age and the severe impact of the conviction on his life, suggesting a sentence of no more than 27 months, possibly combined with community service. Two of Menendez's co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also convicted, while a third pleaded guilty and testified at the trial. Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, was implicated in the scheme, with prosecutors alleging she facilitated the exchange of bribes for political favors. Additionally, a Mercedes-Benz was among the items seized during the raid, further implicating Menendez in the bribery scheme.