Wife of former US Sen. Bob Menendez convicted in bribery scheme

NEW YORK (AP) — Nadine Menendez, the woman of erstwhile U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, was convicted Monday of teaming up with her hubby to judge bribes of cash, golden bars and a luxury car from 3 New Jersey men looking for assistance with their concern dealings oregon ineligible troubles.

The assemblage returned a verdict of blameworthy connected each counts successful the aforesaid national courthouse successful Manhattan wherever a antithetic assemblage convicted Bob Menendez of galore of the aforesaid charges past year. The Democrat is expected to statesman serving an 11-year situation word successful June.

Nadine Menendez's sentencing was scheduled for June 12, six days aft her hubby is expected to study to prison.

The grounds shown to jurors implicit a three-week proceedings followed the timeline of the whirlwind romance betwixt the mates that began successful aboriginal 2018 and continued aft transgression charges were brought against them successful September 2023. Repeatedly during the trial, prosecutors said they were “partners successful crime.”

During a 2022 raid connected the couple’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home, FBI agents recovered astir $150,000 worthy of golden bars and $480,000 successful currency stuffed successful boots, shoeboxes and jackets. In the store was a Mercedes-Benz convertible, besides an alleged bribe.

Both Nadine and Bob Menendez said they are guiltless and ne'er took immoderate bribes.

Initially, they were to beryllium tried together, on with the 3 businessmen, but Nadine Menendez’s proceedings was postponed a twelvemonth agone aft she was diagnosed with bosom crab and underwent surgery.

Bob Menendez, 71, resigned from the Senate past August pursuing his conviction. Before the charges were brought helium had been president of the almighty Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Prosecutors accused Nadine Menendez of starting to facilitating bribes to the legislator astir the clip that they began dating, earlier they joined successful the autumn of 2020.

At the time, she was successful information of losing her location successful Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, aft missing astir $20,000 successful owe payments, proceedings grounds showed. A longtime friend, Wael Hana, provided currency to prevention the location — and prosecutors said that successful return, the legislator began helping Hana sphere a concern monopoly helium had arranged with the Egyptian authorities to certify that imported nutrient met spiritual requirements.

Nadine Menendez besides needed a caller car aft her aged 1 was destroyed erstwhile she struck and killed a antheral crossing a street. (She did not look charges successful the crash). Prosecutors said a businessman, Jose Uribe, gave her a Mercedes-Benz, and successful instrumentality Bob Menendez utilized his clout to unit the New Jersey lawyer general’s bureau to halt investigating immoderate of Uribe’s associates.

Prosecutor said much currency and golden bribes were paid to the mates by Fred Daibes, a salient existent property developer who prosecutors said wanted the legislator to support him from a transgression lawsuit helium was facing successful New Jersey. Prosecutors said Bob Menendez besides helped Daibes unafraid a $95 cardinal concern from a Qatari concern fund.

Nadine Menendez, 58, was described by prosecutors astatine her proceedings arsenic important to the scheme, enabling the legislator to pass with the businessmen and Egyptian authorities officials.

Besides his condemnation connected bribery charges, Bob Menendez besides was convicted of acting arsenic an cause for the Egyptian government. Prosecutors said that successful instrumentality for immoderate of the bribes, helium ghostwrote a missive for Egyptian officials to springiness to his chap senators to calm their concerns astir quality rights abuses and promote them to assistance a clasp connected $300 cardinal successful subject aid.

Nadine Menendez’s lawyer, Barry Coburn, had argued during his closing arguments to the assemblage that the grounds was insufficient for a conviction.

“These things we’re talking astir present are unproven,” helium said.

He said the dealings the legislator had with the businessmen were conscionable what a person is expected to bash for his constituents.

In a rebuttal statement , Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal urged the assemblage to convict Nadine Menendez, calling the grounds against her “consistent and overwhelming.”

Uribe pleaded blameworthy and testified against the others. Hana and Dabies were convicted on with the senator. Hana has been sentenced to 8 years successful situation portion Daibes got 7 years down bars.