New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was found guilty Tuesday of all felony counts at his federal corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold bars and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez, previously the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before stepping down after he was charged, was accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold and a luxury car from three businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt. While he stepped down from the influential panel, he defied calls to resign and mounted a reelection bid as an independent.
Over a nine-week trial, prosecutors said Menendez abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.
Menendez faced 16 federal charges, including bribery, obstruction, fraud and acting as a foreign agent. He could face decades in prison; the most serious charges against him carry a penalty of up to 20 years behind bars.
Speaking to reporters after the verdict was handed down, Menendez vowed to appeal and predicted he would be "successful" in overturning his conviction.
"I have never violated my public oath," Menendez said. "I have never been anything but a patriot of my country, and for my country, I have never, ever been a foreign agent, and the decision rendered by the jury today would put at risk every member of the United States Senate in terms of what they think a foriegn agent would be.
He was on trial alongside two New Jersey businessmen, who also pleaded not guilty. A third pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against the New Jersey lawmaker and the other two businessmen.
Menendez's wife, Nadine, also was charged in the case, although her trial has been postponed while she recovers from breast cancer surgery. She also pleaded not guilty.
The 70-year-old Democratic lawmaker did not testify at his trial, only saying publicly that he was acting in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In a 2022 raid on the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home where Menendez lived with his wife, FBI agents confiscated gold bars worth nearly $150,000 and over $480,000 in cash, some of it stuffed into boots and jackets emblazoned with the senator's name.
Immediately after the verdict was handed down, Menendez faced calls from within his own party to resign, including from the Senate's top Democrat.
"In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement.
"I have previously called on Senator Menendez to resign," said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. "He has now been convicted of the serious crimes of bribery, fraud and extortion, and he must resign immediately."
New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee running for Menendez's seat, called it "sad and somber day for New Jersey and our country."
"Our public servants should work for the people, and today we saw the people judge Senator Menendez as guilty and unfit to serve," Kim said in a statement. "I called on Senator Menendez to step down when these charges were first made public, and now that he has been found guilty, I believe the only course of action for him is to resign his seat immediately. The people of New Jersey deserve better."
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy took his call for Menendez to resign one step further, saying that if he does not step down, he'll urge the Senate to expel him.
"In America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws," he said in a statement.
"Everyone deserves due process, and that’s what Senator Menendez has received," said Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith. "He should now resign immediately.
"Now that Senator Menendez has been found guilty of these serious charges, he must do the right thing and immediately resign," said Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who chairs the Senate Democrats' reelection arm.