Former Sen. Bob Menendez to be sentenced Wednesday for corruption and bribery scheme

Former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez could face more than a decade in prison when he is sentenced Wednesday for taking cash, a Mercedes Benz and gold bars as bribes in exchange for helping three New Jersey businessmen and the government of Egypt.

Menendez was convicted in July of 16 felony counts for the long-running corruption scheme following a nine-week trial. He became the first US senator charged and convicted of acting as an agent of a foreign government. Dozens of witnesses testified, including one of the businessmen involved in the scheme.

His sentencing marks a dramatic fall for the lawmaker born to Cuban emigres who got his start in politics in Union City, New Jersey. Menendez beat one federal indictment on bribery charges in 2018 and became one of the most powerful senators as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – a position he gave up after he was charged in the current bribery scheme in 2023.