One of the most powerful Democrats in Washington received an 11-year sentence

Menendez, the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, was found guilty of a multi-year bribery scheme that included receiving gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz car and more than $480,000 in cash that the FBI found in closets and clothing during a search of his New Jersey home in 2022. According to investigators, the bribes were provided in exchange for favoring the interests of businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar, The New York Times reported.

Testimony and evidence presented at trial showed that Mr. Menendez and his wife conspired during secret dinners and encrypted phone calls.

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In July 2024, a jury found Mr. Menendez guilty on all 16 counts, including extortion, obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. The prosecutor's office demanded 15 years in prison for him, while the defense called the demand “vindictive and cruel.”

Two co-defendants, businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Dybes, were also found guilty. Daibes was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $1.75 million. Hana was sentenced to just over eight years in prison and fined $1.3 million dollars.

Menendez pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal the sentence.

The court postponed the start of Menendez's sentence until early June so he could attend his wife's trial.

Photo: armenpress.am.

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