Bob Menendez, the disgraced former senator from New Jersey, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on January 29 for his involvement in a long-running corruption scheme that effectively ended his political career.
On the same day, his co-defendants Fred Daibes and Wael Hana received sentences of seven and eight years, respectively, along with seven-figure fines for their roles in the crimes.
Menendez, 71, was convicted in July on 16 federal charges including bribery, extortion, and illegally acting as an agent for Egypt’s government while serving as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Federal prosecutors had recommended at least 15 years in prison, calling his crimes “the most serious for which a U.S. senator has been convicted.”
Despite this, Menendez’s defense team requested minimal or no prison time, citing his age and past public service. After seeing the sentences for his co-defendants, the defense amended their request and asked for an eight-year sentence.
