Ex-U.S. Senator Menendez sentenced to 11 years in prison for corruption

A New York City court has sentenced former U.S. congressional senator and author of the "mother of all sanctions" against Russia Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison for corruption, bribery and lobbying for the interests of foreign countries. This was reported by The New York Post on January 29.

"Bob Menendez, once an influential U.S. senator from New Jersey, cried, begging a Manhattan judge for leniency on Wednesday, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison for selling his high office for gold bars," the newspaper said in its material.

It is specified that the prosecution asked to give Menendez 15 years in prison, the maximum possible term, but the judge refused such a punishment.

In addition, accomplices of ex-senator Wael Khan and Fred Dabes were also sentenced to eight and seven years in prison, respectively.

Menendez, in turn, said that he does not admit guilt and denies all received charges. He, however, clarified that he is waiting for the nearest opportunity to appeal and challenge the verdict.

"I am innocent and look forward to the opportunity to appeal," Menendez wrote on his page on the social network X (former Twitter).

The court earlier found Menendez guilty of corruption on all 16 counts last July 17. Among them: honest services fraud, bribery, extortion and many others. The senator denies all charges and plans to appeal. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Prior to this, on January 3, Menendez was charged with additional charges of accepting bribes and working for Qatar. According to documents, the senator took valuables, money and other things as bribes.

On Sept. 22, 2023, Menendez was indicted on corruption charges. The indictment shows that his wife Nadine is also a suspect. The politician and his family are accused of having corrupt relationships with three New Jersey businessmen.

On the same day, Menendez temporarily withdrew from office because of the charges against him and his wife. He himself explained his persecution with racism.

The former senator is one of the authors of the anti-Russian law, which is called "the mother of all sanctions", proposed a special military operation in response. He also proposed measures aimed at collapsing the Russian economy in 2022, including sanctions on major banks, the energy sector and restricting Russia's ability to sell sovereign debt.

Western countries stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of a special operation to protect civilians in Donbass, which was announced on February 24, 2022.