Former Sen. Bob Menendez Denied Bail A Week Before 11-year Sentence Begins

Bob Menendez, nan erstwhile New Jersey legislator who was convicted past twelvemonth connected aggregate corruption charges, is group to statesman his situation condemnation Tuesday, June 17. Menendez has continued fighting for his state contempt nan impending situation term, culminating successful a denial of bail connected Wednesday, June 11, by a national appeals panel.

Menendez was convicted successful July 2024 connected 16 felony counts that included bribery, fraud, acting arsenic a overseas agent, and obstruction. The assemblage recovered Menendez blameworthy of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars successful bribes successful speech for getting businessmen retired of ineligible problem and helping nonstop American costs to Egypt and Qatar.

U.S. Judge Sidney Stein handed down his 11-year condemnation successful January successful a Manhattan territory court.

“The sentences imposed coming consequence from an egregious maltreatment of powerfulness astatine nan highest levels of nan Legislative Branch of nan national government,” U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon said successful a connection astatine nan clip of Menendez’s sentencing.  “He utilized his position to thief his co-conspirators and a overseas government, successful speech for bribes for illustration cash, gold, and a luxury car.”

In a bid of posts connected X from June 11, Menendez accused nan prosecutors successful his lawsuit of “loading unconstitutional grounds onto a laptop they gave to nan jury.” He added, “The forbidden evidence, that nan Judge had ruled inadmissible, violated nan Congressional immunity clause of nan Constitution.”

A week earlier, connected June 2, Menendez claimed that his guidance to erstwhile President Barack Obama’s policies rekindling relations betwixt nan U.S. and Cuba yet led to an indictment by nan then-head of nan Justice Department’s (DOJ) Public Integrity Unit, Jack Smith.

In his threads connected X, Menendez invoked President Donald Trump, saying he understood nan president’s concerns astir “weaponizing” nan DOJ.

Menendez had been a leader for decades, representing New Jersey successful nan Senate since 2006. He antecedently served 13 years successful nan House of Representatives. He besides served successful nan New Jersey State Legislature and arsenic a mayor.