Downfall of a Powerhouse: Bob Menendez Convicted

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a long-time figure in Washington D.C., was convicted on all 16 criminal counts, including bribery, by a Manhattan federal court. This conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for the New Jersey Democrat, who has served in the Senate since 2006. Senior Democrats are urging him to resign.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was convicted on Tuesday on all 16 criminal counts he faced, including bribery, at his corruption trial in Manhattan federal court, completing the once-powerful New Jersey Democrat's dramatic downfall. Senior Democrats, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, quickly called on Menendez, who has served in the Senate since 2006 and avoided conviction in a prior 2017 corruption trial due to a deadlocked jury, to resign from the chamber.

Jurors began their deliberations on Friday and met for more than 12 hours over three days before reaching their verdict in a trial that had taken nine weeks. Menendez, 70, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included illegally acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and extortion. Menendez remained defiant after the verdict, telling reporters outside the courthouse that he would appeal, though he did not answer questions about resignation. Menendez previously resisted calls from fellow Democrats to quit after he was charged in September.

In exchange for bribes, Menendez helped steer billions of dollars in American aid to Egypt, where one of the businessmen, Wael Hana, had ties to government officials, according to prosecutors. Menendez was also accused of trying to pressure law enforcement to lay off Daibes, a real estate developer, and Uribe, an insurance broker who testified that he bought Nadine Menendez a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz in exchange for her husband's help. Nadine Menendez is set to be tried separately. She did not attend her husband's trial after being diagnosed with breast cancer.