A federal jury on Monday found Nadine Menendez, wife of disgraced former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), guilty of her role in the sweeping corruption and foreign influence scheme that brought down the disgraced, once-powerful politician’s career to a dramatic end.
Prosecutors accused Nadine Menendez, 58, of accepting gold bars, cash, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and “a no-show job” over five years in exchange for the senator’s official acts in a scheme that reached as far as the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
“Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a statement moments after jurors in Manhattan delivered their verdict. “Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve.”
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The former New Jersey senator was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in January after being found guilty on all counts that included conspiracy to commit bribery, actions to benefit Egypt, and conspiracy for a Public Official to Act as a Foreign Agent. He resigned his seat shortly thereafter. His wife will be sentenced later this year, according to media reports.
“Today’s verdict sends the clear message that the power of government officials may not be put up for sale, and that all those who facilitate corruption will be held accountable for their actions,” prosecutors said in their statement on Monday. “I thank the career prosecutors of this Office and the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation for their unwavering commitment to this case, and for their extraordinary efforts in ensuring that justice was done.”