Nadine Menendez, the spouse of former New Jersey senator Bob Menendez, was discovered responsible, on Monday, for taking part in a central function in a years-long bribery scheme alongside her husband and two different co-defendants.
After two days of deliberations, a jury of 12 New Yorkers discovered Menendez responsible on all 15 counts, together with bribery, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and conspiring to make her husband act as a international agent.
Prosecutors argued Menendez, 58, provided up her husband’s political affect in change for money, jewellery, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible from three New Jersey businessmen. They mentioned she served as a central determine within the scheme, speaking between all events.
Menendez’s husband had used an analogous argument during his trial last year. His attorneys blamed much of the bribery scheme of his wife. Finally he too was discovered responsible on all adjustments for accepted bribes from three New Jersey businessmen who sought his assist in meddling in state and federal criminal investigations and securing profitable offers with officers from Egypt and Qatar.
The conviction means Menendez will be a part of her husband and “companion in crime” in serving jail time for the scheme.
A number of of the costs towards her carry a most jail sentence of 20 years.
“Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez had been companions in crime,” appearing U.S. Legal professional Matthew Podolsky mentioned in an announcement after the decision. “Collectively, Nadine Menendez and the Senator positioned their very own pursuits and greed forward of the pursuits of the residents the Senator was elected to serve.”
Menendez was indicted alongside her husband and New Jersey businessmen in 2023. She was meant to be tried alongside her husband for her alleged function within the scheme however the choose cut up the Menendez’s trials after Menendez revealed she wanted breast most cancers remedy.
Bob Menendez had used his spouse a scapegoat throughout his trial, claiming his spouse harbored lots of the bribes in her private locked closet and didn’t inform him of them.
However after being convicted within the scheme, the senator has advocated for his spouse on social media – imploring President Donald Trump to assist finish the prosecution.
“My spouse, who had breast most cancers reconstructive surgical procedure simply days in the past, is being pressured by the federal government to go to trial tomorrow. Solely the conceitedness of the SDNY will be so merciless and inhumane. They need to let her totally get better!” Menendez wrote in an X post address to Trump.
Decide Sidney Stein of the Southern District of New York set her sentencing date for June 12. It would happen the identical month her husband is to report back to jail to start his 11-year sentence.
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