Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., faces sentencing Wednesday on 16 federal felony convictions related to a bribery scheme in which he traded political influence for cash, gold bars and other goods with two Egyptian and New Jersey businessmen.
Menedez represented New Jersey for more than 18 years in the U.S. Senate but resigned in August due to the charges. He could be sentenced to more than a decade in prison for the crimes.
Federal prosecutors said earlier this month they would seek to send the former senator to prison for the next 15 years, arguing the sentencing should “reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes, the immeasurable harm they have caused to the public trust, and the need to deter others from engaging in such egregious abuses of power.”
A jury in July found Menendez, along with Edgewater developer Fred Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana, guilty on all charges related to the bribery scheme.
The trial hinged on accusations that Menendez used his political might to influence criminal investigations involving the two businessmen and helped direct billions in U.S. aid to Egypt to bolster their business dealings. In exchange, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, received gifts including gold bars, cash and luxury cars.
Menendez, 71, pleaded not guilty to the convictions and has vowed to appeal. Prior to Wednesday’s proceeding, attorneys for Menendez filed motions that outlined their plans to appeal the case, regardless of the outcome of the former senator’s sentencing.
Here’s a look at what you need to know.
Menendez’ co-conspirators sentenced to years in prison
Menendez co-conspirator, Fred Daibes, was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $1.75 million on Wednesday. Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer, was found guilty last July on seven charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. He is awaiting sentencing in March in a separate federal bank fraud case.
Hana was sentenced to a little over eights years in prison and was fined $1.3 million. The Egyptian businessman was accused of using Menendez to get favorable treatment from Egyptian officials for his export business.
What was Bob Menedez found guilty of?
Menendez, Hana and Daibes were convicted in July after a nine-week trial in which they faced charges that included bribery, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts he faced.
Nadine Arslanian Menendez, the senator’s wife, is still waiting for her day in court. Arslanian Menendez faces 15 bribery and corruption charges. During his trial, the former senator’s attorney blamed his wife for the scheme.
Her trial was separated from the others due to a cancer diagnosis last spring and is set to start on March 18.
Menendez appeal already in the works
A day before the sentencing, Menendez’s attorneys filed a motion for his release pending an appeal.
They argued in a 36-page document that Menendez should be released because he isn’t a danger to anyone or a fight risk. They said he intends to participate in his wife’s trial and is “committed to vindicating himself on appeal.”
The 36-page document outlined how Menendez’ legal team also plan to question the constitutionality of the charges made against the former senator.
“A man should not be sent to prison when reasonable minds can disagree about the legal viability of his convictions. And a lifelong public servant should not be forced to wait out such an appeal from the walls of a federal facility,” wrote Menendez’ attorney, Adam Fee.
Contributing: Reuters