Democrat Bob Menendez Indicted For Bribery

Democrats are embroiled in yet another corruption controversy, and this time it’s a veteran legislator. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife, Nadine Menendez, could spend years behind bars if convicted on multiple charges brought on Friday.

This is not a first for the Democrat, who has weathered a series of criminal investigations during his time in Washington. Despite this, he currently chairs the prestigious Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He stands accused of accepting gold bars and other gifts in exchange for assistance in a criminal case as well as from the Egyptian government. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan charged the couple with illegal efforts to assist New Jersey businessmen and Egyptian authorities.

Included in the indictments was an image of gold bars law enforcement seized from the Menendez residence. There were other images of envelopes stuffed with cash found in jackets labeled with his name and hanging in his closet.

Investigators reported discovering over $480,000 in cash in his home.

The senator is also accused of accepting payments toward his mortgage, being paid for a job with few requirements and a luxury automobile.

Another allegation reportedly concerns transferring “sensitive” information to the Egyptian government. This is believed by prosecutors to be involved with a scheme to have a contract approved for a New Jersey business. 

Prosecutors look to seize assets held by the Menendez couple including their New Jersey home and a 2019 Mercedes-Benz. They may also forfeit about $566,000 in cash, gold bars and bank account holdings. 

Three New Jersey businessmen are also indicted in the scheme.

Menendez has now been indicted three times by federal prosecutors, but the Democrat has yet to be convicted. He and his wife have been married since 2020 and face three criminal counts each.

They include charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under the color of official right.

The senator has said he plans to seek reelection next year, though Democrats are undoubtedly concerned about this latest development. The party holds a tenuous 51-49 majority in the upper chamber, and the indictment clearly complicates projections.

If Menendez choses to resign, New Jersey’s Democratic governor would choose his replacement. That appointment would last only until the next general election, which is in Nov. 2024.