Sen Bob Menendez pushed to 'resign' after he's convicted of multiple charges in federal corruption case

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty of bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and numerous other charges in his federal corruption case.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, July 16 after the Manhattan jury deliberated since Friday afternoon, July 12, according to Reuters.

Sen Bob Menendez's conviction on all counts

Bob Menendez was convicted on all 16 criminal counts he faced in the federal corruption case.

Two New Jersey businessmen who underwent trial alongside the embattled Democrat were also found guilty on all counts.

In 2023, federal prosecutors accused the ex-chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his wife, Nadine Menendez of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, and lavish gifts from Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and a third businessman who pleaded guilty before the criminal trial began.

Prosecutors stated that these businessmen benefited from the senator’s political power in exchange for the bribes.

Calls for Sen Bob Menendez's resignation

Bob Menendez, whose sentencing is set to take place on October 29, is mounting an independent reelection bid in the upper chamber for a fourth term.

However, the verdict has led Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy (D) to call on Menendez to resign.

The New Jersey senator's case stemmed from allegations of conspiring to act as a foreign agent of Egypt, accepting gifts from the Qatari government, and attempting to cover up the bribery scheme as prosecutors investigated the case, as per several superseding indictments.

Nadine Menendez's legal battle

Facing several charges herself, Nadine Menendez's case was severed from the others after the court was informed that she would undergo a surgical procedure for breast cancer.

During the trial, federal prosecutors presented extensive evidence, including testimony that more than $486,000 in cash and $100,000 in gold bars were discovered in the Menendez’s home by the FBI.

The evidence also showed that Nadine frequently acted as a go-between for her husband and the businessmen involved in the bribery scheme.

Her trial was initially scheduled for August but was indefinitely delayed on Monday, July 15. Nadine has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Internet slams Sen Bob Menendez after corruption case conviction

After Bob Menendez was found guilty of all 16 criminal counts in the federal corruption case, netizens rallied to criticize the Democratic senator's actions.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote "Good riddance! Lock him up," while another user tweeted, "Another crooked Senator goes down."

"Good to see corruption conviction finally takes somebody down in the swamp," a netizen commented and another wrote, "Throw him in prison!"

"Poor Bob. Got away with it Once. Thought He was 'above the law'," one tweeted and another wrote, "Patiently waiting for him to resign or be expelled from congress."

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