Washington, January 30 (HS): Former US Senator and Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a court on Wednesday afternoon. The court convicted him last year of extortion, obstruction of justice, and taking bribes to favor businessmen associated with Egypt and Qatar, in addition to abusing the power of his office in exchange for bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury car, among other items.
According to ABC News, Judge Sidney Stein remarked while sentencing former Senator Bob, “You were standing at the top of our political system. Somewhere along the way, you lost your way.”
71-year-old Menendez became the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. His children Alicia and Rob were present in court at the time of the sentencing. Before this decision, two New Jersey businessmen convicted of bribing Menendez, Vel Hanna, were sentenced to eight years and Fred Dibes to seven years in prison.
After the sentencing, Menendez called the prosecution a ‘witch hunt and political witchcraft’. He claimed he was innocent. He would file an appeal against the verdict. Menendez said President Donald Trump was the right person. He hoped Trump would reform the judicial system. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Daniel Sassoon said the sentence was the result of a serious abuse of power. The judge made it clear in the verdict that Menendez would not have to report to jail until June 6. On March 18, Menendez’s wife Nadine will be heard on similar corruption and bribery charges.
Hindusthan Samachar
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