Senator Menendez's wife found guilty of bribery, faces prison time
According to federal prosecutors, the bribery scheme began in 2018, not long after Nadine and Bob Menendez began dating
In a dramatic turn of events, Nadine Menendez, the wife of former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, has been found guilty on all 15 federal charges in a sweeping bribery case that has rocked the political world.
The verdict delivered marks a stunning fall from grace for the couple once considered a political power pair.
According to US media reports, Nadine Menendez was convicted of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
Her trial revealed a sprawling corruption scheme in which she and her husband allegedly accepted bribes in the form of luxury items, gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in exchange for political favors.
These favors included influencing U.S. foreign policy to benefit Egypt and meddling in criminal investigations to aid their co-conspirators.
According to federal prosecutors, the bribery scheme began in 2018, not long after Nadine and Bob Menendez began dating.
They married in 2020, and prosecutors painted them as "partners in crime," working together to leverage the senator’s influence for personal gain.
The FBI's 2022 raid on the Menendez home uncovered damning evidence: over $480,000 (Sh 62.1 million) in cash hidden in clothing and closets, along with gold bars worth over $150,000 (Sh19.5 million).
Photos of the seized items shocked the public and added to the gravity of the case.
Nadine's conviction follows that of her husband, who was found guilty in July 2024 and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
Bob Menendez, who had served in the U.S. Senate for more than 18 years and was the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, resigned in disgrace after his conviction.
He is the first U.S. senator to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent.
Nadine’s trial had initially been delayed due to health issues, but the jury ultimately agreed with prosecutors’ argument that she played a central role in orchestrating and executing the scheme.
Her sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2025. She faces the possibility of decades in prison.
The Menendez case has become one of the most significant corruption scandals in recent political history, raising serious questions about influence, ethics, and accountability at the highest levels of government