Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was found guilty on all charges in his federal corruption trial on Tuesday.
ABC News report:
Federal prosecutors in New York have alleged that the New Jersey Democrat accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and mortgage payments in exchange for political influence as a senator. The three New Jersey businessmen indicted are: Egypt and Qatar are said to be recipients.
The jury deliberated for about 13 hours over three days.
Menendez has pleaded not guilty to 16 federal charges, including bribery, fraud, obstruction and acting as a foreign agent.
Until his federal indictment, he served as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The New Jersey Democrat is “the first sitting member of Congress to be indicted on charges of conspiring as a foreign agent.”
Federal prosecutors alleged that Menendez “sold his power” in exchange for money, envelopes stuffed with cash, unpaid checks he gave to his wife, and luxury cars. The FBI found more than $400,000 in cash hidden in various locations in his home.
“Being one of the most powerful people in Washington was not enough for him. Robert Menendez wanted all of that power and used it to enrich himself and his wife,” federal prosecutor Paul Monteleone said on July 8.
Attorney Adam Fee called the prosecutors’ case against the New Jersey Democrat “cherry-picking nonsense” and accused prosecutors of “whitewashing” the facts.
“His actions are lawful and normal and good for the country,” Fee said.
ABC News continued:
Prosecutors told jurors that Senator Menendez had promised to use his power to help Egypt. The deal was brokered by New Jersey businessman Wael Hana, a friend of Senator Menendez’s wife, Nadine, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said Nadine had the senator’s backing to maintain a monopoly on halal meat.
During the trial, Sen. Menendez’s sister was questioned about why the congressman had so much cash stuffed in his senatorial jacket.
“This is a Cuban custom,” Caridad Gonzalez said.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter. Sean Moran 3.
