Thu Jan 30 05:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Ex-Senator Menendez Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Corruption
**New York, NY** – Former US Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday for accepting bribes in cash and gold bars, and for acting as an agent of Egypt while selling his influence to businessmen. Judge Sidney H. Stein of the Manhattan federal court delivered the sentence, stating that Menendez, despite a life of public service, had lost his way and prioritized personal gain over the public good.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for the Democrat, who was convicted on multiple counts of bribery and acting as an agent of a foreign government. Menendez, visibly emotional during his allocution, acknowledged his mistakes but highlighted his past accomplishments and contributions. His defense team had argued for a sentence under two years, citing his decades of public service and his rise from poverty to a position of power. However, after observing the sentencing of two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes (7 years) and Wael Hana (8 years), who bribed Menendez, the defense revised its request to a maximum of eight years.
The judge ultimately determined that an 11-year prison sentence was appropriate, given the gravity of Menendez’s offenses and the abuse of his political power. The case marks a significant downfall for the former senator, who was once considered a prominent figure in the Democratic Party.
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