NEW YORK (AP) — Nadine Menendez, wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted Monday of participating in a bribery scheme that involved her husband accepting bribes in exchange for political favors. The verdict, delivered by a Manhattan jury, found her guilty of working with Bob Menendez to accept bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a luxury car.
The charges stemmed from actions taken by the Menendez couple, who were accused of accepting payments from New Jersey businessmen seeking political influence or assistance with their legal issues. This guilty verdict follows Bob Menendez’s conviction on similar charges last year, and he is set to begin serving an 11-year prison term in June.
Nadine Menendez, 58, appeared unaffected when the verdict was announced and is scheduled for sentencing on June 12, just six days after her husband’s expected prison report date. Outside the courthouse, she wore a pink mask and stood beside her lawyer, Barry Coburn, who expressed devastation over the outcome.
Prosecutors argued that the couple began their criminal scheme shortly after they began dating in 2018, before marrying in 2020. Nadine Menendez, who had been facing financial difficulties at the time, was allegedly involved in facilitating bribes to her husband. These included an attempt to help a businessman, Wael Hana, maintain a monopoly in the Egyptian meat market in exchange for financial support to save her home from foreclosure.
Further bribes were allegedly made to the Menendezes, including a Mercedes-Benz luxury car given to Nadine Menendez by businessman Jose Uribe, in exchange for her husband’s intervention to halt investigations into Uribe’s associates. More gold bars and cash were allegedly given by real estate developer Fred Daibes, who sought protection from a criminal case.
The case, part of a broader investigation into corruption, also resulted in convictions for three businessmen involved in the scheme. Hana and Daibes were both sentenced to prison terms, while Uribe pleaded guilty and testified against the others.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal, who led the prosecution, praised the verdict, emphasizing that it sent a strong message against government corruption. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky also echoed this sentiment, stressing that those who facilitate corruption will be held accountable.
Nadine Menendez, who has maintained her innocence throughout the trial, now faces a future sentencing date that could change her life, alongside her husband’s looming prison sentence.
