Throughout the eight-week trial, Senator Bob Menendez maintained his innocence, with his defense team arguing that the gifts he received did not constitute bribes, as prosecutors failed to establish a direct link between the gifts and any specific actions taken by Menendez.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been convicted on 16 counts related to a bribery scheme, wherein he received gifts, including gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for providing assistance to foreign governments.
As a result, Menendez, who previously chaired the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, faces potential decades-long imprisonment and possible expulsion from the Democratic Party, BBC reports.
Throughout the eight-week trial, Senator Bob Menendez maintained his innocence, with his defense team arguing that the gifts he received did not constitute bribes, as prosecutors failed to establish a direct link between the gifts and any specific actions taken by Menendez.
Meanwhile, Menendez's wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, is also facing charges in the bribery case, although her trial has been postponed to allow her to undergo treatment for breast cancer.
She has entered a not guilty plea.
During the trial, Senator Menendez's legal team attempted to deflect responsibility by portraying his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, as an individual with financial difficulties who sought to acquire assets and funds through various means.
This portrayal aimed to suggest that she, rather than the Senator, was the primary motivator in the alleged bribery scheme.
Following a nine-week trial and over 12 hours of deliberation spanning three days, a jury found Senator Bob Menendez guilty on all counts.
Additionally, two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, are facing trial on allegations that they sought to illegally influence the senator to assist the Egyptian government and secure funding from a Qatari investment fund.
A third businessman, Jose Uribe, previously pleaded guilty and testified against Senator Menendez during the trial.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, including expert testimony, emails, and text messages from Senator Bob Menendez, to demonstrate that he accepted lavish rewards from foreign governments.
The gifts allegedly included gold bars valued at over $100,000.
Despite facing federal corruption charges, Senator Menendez is currently running as an independent in the upcoming November election, after many Democrats in the state distanced themselves from him following the release of the indictment late last year.
Notably, this is not the senator's first experience with federal corruption charges, as he was previously tried in 2017 for allegedly exchanging political favors for luxury holidays and other gifts with a wealthy Florida eye doctor.
The 2017 trial concluded with a mistrial, as Senator Menendez was acquitted on certain charges, and the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the remaining counts.