Former Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison, no fine in federal bribery case
Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday in a federal bribery case in which he was accused of trading political influence for cash, gold bars and other goods with two Egyptian and New Jersey businessmen.
A jury in July found Menendez, along with Edgewater developer Fred Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana, guilty on all charges related to the bribery scheme. Daibes was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $1.75 million. Hana was sentenced to a little more than eight years in prison and fined $1.3 million. Menendez was not fined for his part in the corruption.
The trial hinged on accusations that Menendez used his political might to influence criminal investigations involving the two businessmen and helped direct billions in U.S. aid to Egypt to bolster their business dealings. In exchange, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, received gifts including gold bars, cash and luxury cars.
Menendez, 71, represented New Jersey for more than 18 years in the U.S. Senate. He resigned in August after the convictions.
Before Wednesday's proceeding, attorneys for Menendez filed motions that outlined their plans to appeal the case, regardless of the outcome of the former senator's sentencing.
Here’s a look at what you need to know.
What was Bob Menedez found guilty of?
Menendez, Hana and Daibes were convicted after a nine-week trial in which they faced charges that included bribery, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts he faced.
Nadine Arslanian Menendez, the senator's wife, is still waiting for her day in court. Arslanian Menendez faces 15 bribery and corruption charges. During his trial, the former senator's attorney blamed his wife for the scheme.
Her trial was separated from the others because of a cancer diagnosis last spring and is set to start on March 18.
Menendez co-conspirator Fred Daibes was found guilty in July on seven charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. The New Jersey real estate developer is awaiting sentencing in March in a separate federal bank fraud case.
Wael Hana was sentenced to a little over eights years in prison and was fined $1.3 million. The Egyptian businessman was accused of using Menendez to get favorable treatment from Egyptian officials for his export business.
Menendez appeal already in the works
A day before the sentencing, Menendez’s attorneys filed a motion for his release pending an appeal. They argued in a 36-page document that Menendez should be released because he isn’t a danger to anyone or a fight risk. They said he intends to participate in his wife’s trial and is “committed to vindicating himself on appeal."
The 36-page document outlined how Menendez’ legal team also plan to question the constitutionality of the charges against the former senator.
"A man should not be sent to prison when reasonable minds can disagree about the legal viability of his convictions. And a lifelong public servant should not be forced to wait out such an appeal from the walls of a federal facility," wrote Menendez' attorney, Adam Fee.
Contributing: Reuters