Robert Menendez, the former U.S. senator from New Jersey who was convicted of corruption, should be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison, according to U.S. prosecutors. They argue that Menendez betrayed the trust of voters by effectively putting his office “up for sale” in exchange for bribes.
Last Thursday night, the recommendation was submitted to Manhattan federal court. This comes after Menendez’s legal team appealed for leniency last week, emphasizing the 71-year-old’s age, extensive public service, charitable contributions, commitment to family, and the devastating impact on his finances and career.
Menendez’s lawyers argued that the probation officers’ recommendation of a 12-year prison term amounted to nothing short of a “death sentence.”
Menendez, a Democrat, served in the Senate for 18-1/2 years and chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Last July, he was convicted on all 16 counts, including the charge of acting as an agent of a foreign government.
According to prosecutors, Menendez was involved in a bribery conspiracy where he received various rewards, such as gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for political favors. These favors included helping to secure military aid for Egypt and providing assistance to Qatar.
Prosecutors, in their Thursday filing, have also suggested that Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, both New Jersey businessmen who were found guilty alongside Menendez, should face a minimum of ten years and nine years in prison, respectively.
The defendants, driven by sheer greed, committed acts that were described by prosecutors as an audacious and unprecedented attempt, originating from the highest echelons of the legislative branch, to undermine the country’s fundamental authority over foreign relations and law enforcement.
The defendants have pleaded for lenient sentences, with none of them asking for more than two years in prison, or even no prison time at all. Their sentencing is set for January 29th in Manhattan federal court.
Nadine Menendez, the wife of Menendez, is seeking to delay her trial on Feb. 5 due to concerns about potential negative publicity resulting from her husband’s sentencing.
Sense of Entitlement
In their sentencing recommendation, prosecutors stated that Menendez is the first senator convicted of misusing a Senate committee leadership position, as well as the first person convicted of acting as a foreign agent while working as a public official.
Menendez faced accusations of attempting to obstruct criminal investigations in New Jersey on behalf of Daibes and Jose Uribe, a former insurance salesman. Uribe testified on behalf of the government during the trial.
Prosecutors claimed Menendez continued offenses even after a Senate ethics committee chastised him for accepting gifts from a rich contributor, Salomon Melgen, without the necessary approval and disclosures.
Menendez’s association with Melgen was important to a 2017 corruption prosecution against the senator, which resulted in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked.
“Menendez’s willingness to engage in the charged scheme immediately after receiving a formal admonition for such similar conduct speaks volumes about his character,” the prosecution claimed.
Prosecutors further asserted that a “deeply misplaced sense of entitlement” underlies claims that Menendez has received adequate punishment.
Robert Menendez has maintained his innocence and intends to appeal his conviction.
The appeal may include a claim that jurors were unlawfully allowed to consider evidence not offered at trial during deliberations.
Menendez’s lawyers asked for a prison term “substantially” less than the 21 to 27 months recommended by federal sentencing guidelines. Probation authorities calculated the guidelines’ suggestion as 24-1/2 to 30-1/2 years.
Hana and Daibes have requested sentences of a little more than one and two years, respectively.
On Friday, lawyers for Menendez and Daibes did not immediately reply to calls for comment.
Lawrence Lustberg, Hana’s lawyer, called his client’s 10-year sentence “inhumane and unjust.” Nadine Menendez’s lawyer, Barry Coburn, declined to comment.
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