Bob Menendez begins serving 11-year prison term for corruption
- Former Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of accepting bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and received an 11-year prison sentence.
- Despite his claims of innocence and attempts to appeal his conviction, Menendez was denied bail and began serving his sentence.
- His case has sparked discussions on political corruption, illustrating a significant fall from grace for a long-serving Democrat.
In the United States, former Senator Bob Menendez reported to prison on June 17, 2025, after being convicted on multiple felony counts for corruption including bribery and fraud. Menendez, who served New Jersey in the Senate from 2006 until his recent resignation, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme where he accepted significant amounts of gold and cash in exchange for political favors. After being found guilty in a case that highlighted his abuse of power, he was denied bail by a federal appeals court as he sought to appeal his conviction. During his trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence indicating that Menendez accepted bribes from New Jersey businessmen in return for using his influence to protect them from legal troubles and aiding in foreign relations with Egypt and Qatar. Specific details revealed that Menendez received over $480,000 in cash and gold bars valued at roughly $150,000, alongside other luxury gifts. Consequently, despite his long political career and position as the former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his actions led to widespread ridicule and the label “Gold Bar Bob”. Following his conviction in July 2024 and subsequent sentencing in January 2025, Menendez attempted to maintain his innocence and criticized the judicial process, claiming it was politically motivated. His efforts included a last-minute plea to remain free on bail while appealing the conviction; however, this was rejected by the court. Menendez's legal team argued that the evidence presented was unconstitutional and claimed it stripped him of his rights, invoking the Congressional immunity clause. As Menendez starts his prison term in the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, which houses around 1,200 inmates, his wife, Nadine Menendez, is also facing legal repercussions after her conviction linked to the bribery scheme. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2025. Menendez’s conviction represents a significant moment in U.S. politics, raising discussions about corruption within the legislative branch and the perception of political accountability.