Ex-Senator Bob Menendez Begins 11-Year Prison Sentence After Bribery Conviction

Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez reported to federal prison this week to begin serving an 11-year sentence following his conviction in a major bribery and corruption case.

Menendez, a Democrat who served in the U.S. Senate for nearly two decades, was found guilty in 2024 on all 16 counts brought against him, including bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction. Prosecutors accused the 71-year-old of using his powerful Senate position to benefit wealthy businessmen and foreign governments in exchange for lavish gifts. These bribes included gold bars, envelopes stuffed with cash, luxury watches, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

Due to the nature of the case, Menendez earned the nickname “Gold Bar Bob” during the high-profile trial. According to federal investigators, Menendez accepted the bribes in exchange for political favors that helped three New Jersey businessmen as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Evidence presented during the trial included cash found hidden in clothing, as well as fingerprints linking him to the payments.

Menendez has denied wrongdoing and has continued to claim he is innocent. He also attempted to delay his sentencing and prison time by citing personal matters, including his wife Nadine Menendez’s own legal troubles stemming from similar charges. However, the court ordered him to report to FCI Schuylkill, a medium-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, July 16, 2025.

Located roughly two and a half hours from his home in Englewood Cliffs, the prison will be Menendez’s new residence for the foreseeable future. Efforts to secure a presidential pardon or reduced sentence — including appeals to Donald Trump — have so far been unsuccessful.

Once considered a leading figure in Democratic politics and the former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez’s fall from power has been swift and dramatic. His conviction marks one of the most serious corruption scandals involving a sitting U.S. senator in recent years.

His legal team is reportedly preparing appeals, but for now, Menendez begins his sentence surrounded by barbed wire, not the halls of Congress. The scandal has left a lasting mark on New Jersey politics and raised renewed calls for ethics reform in Washington.

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