Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in federal bribery and corruption case

NEW YORK — Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Wednesday afternoon in a Decrease Manhattan court docket.

Menendez, 71, was convicted final July on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors had been calling for Menendez to serve 15 years, citing “the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes, the immeasurable hurt they’ve precipitated to the general public belief, and the necessity to deter others from partaking in such egregious abuses of energy.”

The protection had mentioned Menendez ought to’ve obtained lower than two years in jail, saying their shopper suffered monetary {and professional} smash and deserved mercy due to his age.

U.S. District Decide Sidney H. Stein sided extra with the federal government.

“Someplace alongside the way in which, you turned, I am sorry to say, a corrupt politician,” Stein mentioned.

Previous to studying his destiny, sources near the previous three-term senator advised CBS Information New York he had been praying loads and spending time together with his son, daughter and grandchildren. When addressed the decide throughout sentencing, Menendez bought emotional, saying the trial ripped aside his work and what he stands for, and harmed his household and the group he represented.

“Your honor, you have got earlier than you a chastened man,” Menendez mentioned. “You actually do not know the person you’re about to condemn.”

Menendez spoke of his upbringing, how he was the primary in his household to go to school and regulation college, and listed a number of issues he did for members of the group. He mentioned of the issues disclosed about him at trial, “none of it will get near who I’m.”

“I’ve devoted my whole life to the service of others,” he added. “I’m removed from an ideal man, however I imagine in my half-century of public service, I’ve completed extra good than dangerous.”

Menendez should give up to authorities on June 6.

Menendez acted as overseas agent for Egypt, prosecutors say

Federal prosecutors say Menendez acted as a overseas agent for the federal government of Egypt and abused his highly effective publish on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee.

Investigators searched his residence in 2022 and located greater than a dozen gold bars and a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} in money, which officers say he had accepted as bribes.

Menendez denied violating his public oath, and his attorneys tried to have his conviction thrown out and his sentencing delayed, however a federal decide denied each requests.

Menendez resigned his Senate seat final August. It was stuffed by Andy Kim.   

Co-defendant Daibes will get 7 years, Hana will get 8+

On Wednesday morning, co-defendant Fred Daibes was given a seven-year time period and fined $1.75 million. Daibes cried as he requested for mercy from the decide, not for himself however for his autistic son that he cares for. The decide mentioned he understands Daibes rose from poverty and is thought for serving to others, however advised him, “There is a darkish edge to what you have got completed.”

The federal government was asking for 9 years, however the decide granted a variance due to Daibes’ good deeds and age.

Co-defendant Wael Hana, who professed his innocence, obtained eight years and one month in jail and a $1.25 million high-quality. The decide referred to as the proof in opposition to him, “very, very substantial.”

Prosecutors have been in search of 10 years.

Daibes and Hana are required to show themselves in to authorities on April 4.