Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted Tuesday of peddling his office’s power in exchange for gold bars, cash and a convertible, a likely death blow to the longtime New Jersey lawmaker’s political career.
A New York federal jury found the Democratic senator guilty of all 16 criminal counts he faced, including bribery, fraud and illegal foreign-agent offenses.
Federal prosecutors charged him with pocketing bribes in exchange for taking official actions to benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar. During the nearly two-month trial, prosecution witnesses, including one of the businessmen who cooperated, painted a damning portrait of a crooked politician who hashed out illegal deals over cigars, ritzy dinners and bottles of wine.
Jurors also got to hold a gold bar that prosecutors said was a bribe. The conviction all but ends the political future of Menendez, 70 years old, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29 and could face decades in prison.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
@H0u5eRubyPatriot2yrs2Y
"Menendez, who spent over 50 years as a public servant, previously beat corruption charges in a separate case"
First, he was a leech on the public rather than being a public servant. Second, he didn't beat previous corruption charges. It was a hung jury, and prosecutors didn't retry him.
Do you think the Democrats will expel him and lose their majority? Think again?
If they indicted every corrupt lawmaker, there’d be no lawmakers left. Finally he got what he deserves
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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