A jury has discovered Nadine Menendez responsible in her federal bribery trial, following the conviction of her husband, former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, on related crimes.
Prosecutors argued the 2 had been “companions in crime” whereas accusing them of accepting money, gold bars and a luxurious automobile in alternate for political favors.
The protection argued there was no proof Nadine Menendez was concerned within the scheme her husband was discovered responsible of perpetrating.
Jurors started deliberating Friday afternoon earlier than reaching their verdict Monday afternoon.
She shall be sentenced in June, the identical month her husband is because of report back to jail to start serving an 11-year sentence.
Nadine Menendez, spouse of former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez arrives at Federal Courtroom, for her bribery trial in New York, March 20, 2025.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
She pleaded not responsible to fifteen prices, together with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit sincere providers fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion underneath colour of official proper. A number of of the fees carry a most sentence of 20 years in jail.
Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January after being convicted on all 16 counts final 12 months in his federal corruption trial, turning into the primary sitting member of Congress to be convicted of appearing as a international agent.
A jury discovered him responsible of accepting a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} price of bribes — together with gold, money, a luxurious convertible, funds towards Nadine Menendez’s house mortgage and compensation for her no-show job — from three New Jersey businessmen, who’ve additionally been convicted.
“Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez had been companions in crime,” appearing U.S. Lawyer Matthew Podolsky stated in an announcement following the decision within the corruption and international affect scheme. “Over the span of 5 years, Nadine Menendez agreed to just accept and accepted all kinds of bribes — together with gold bars, money, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and a no-show job — all in alternate for the Senator’s corrupt official acts. Collectively, Nadine Menendez and the Senator positioned their very own pursuits and greed forward of the pursuits of the residents the Senator was elected to serve.”
“At the moment’s verdict sends the clear message that the ability of presidency officers might not be put up on the market, and that every one those that facilitate corruption shall be held accountable for his or her actions,” he added.
The FBI stated it discovered $70,000 in money in Nadine Menendez’s protected deposit field and the remainder inside congressional jackets bearing Bob Menendez’s title.
Shortly after the 2 started relationship in 2018, Nadine Menendez launched Egyptian intelligence and navy officers to then-Sen. Bob Menendez, in response to federal prosecutors, who alleged these introductions helped set up a corrupt settlement through which they accepted bribes in alternate for her husband’s actions to profit Egypt.
Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his spouse Nadine Arslanian, arrive on the US District Courtroom, Southern District of New York, in New York Metropolis on September 27, 2023.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Witnesses within the trial included Jose Uribe, a New Jersey businessman who pleaded guilty final 12 months and testified for the federal government. Prosecutors stated Uribe paid for Menendez’s $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible in alternate for serving to disrupt a felony investigation by the New Jersey Lawyer Common’s Workplace associated to Uribe.
Nadine Menendez was supposed to face trial alongside her husband, however the decide allowed her to face trial individually to accommodate her breast most cancers prognosis. Her trial was postponed a number of occasions whereas she underwent remedy.
The trial itself was additionally suspended for a number of days as a result of she was in poor health.
On March 17, on the eve of jury choice in Nadine Menendez’s trial, the previous senator posted on X that his spouse was being “compelled by the federal government to go to trial” regardless of having latest reconstructive surgical procedure for breast most cancers.
“Solely the vanity of the SDNY will be so merciless and inhumane,” Bob Menendez stated within the put up, which tagged President Donald Trump. “They need to let her absolutely get well.”
Following his sentencing, Bob Menendez known as the prosecution a “political witch hunt” and that he hopes Trump “cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.”
In issuing Bob Menendez’s sentence, Choose Sidney Stein stated the previous senator wouldn’t need to report back to jail till June 6 in order that he may very well be accessible throughout his spouse’s trial.
