Nadine Menendez Convicted in Federal Bribery Case \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Nadine Menendez was convicted of conspiring with her husband, ex-Senator Bob Menendez, to accept bribes involving cash, gold bars, and a luxury car. Jurors found her guilty on all counts related to a multi-year corruption scheme involving three New Jersey businessmen. Her sentencing is set for June 12, just days after her husband reports to prison.
Quick Looks
- Nadine Menendez was found guilty on all counts in a federal bribery case.
- She conspired with ex-Senator Bob Menendez to accept luxury bribes.
- Bribes included cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible.
- Her sentencing is scheduled for June 12 in Manhattan.
- The case involved three New Jersey businessmen, all convicted.
- Bob Menendez will begin serving an 11-year prison term in June.
- The couple allegedly accepted favors in exchange for political influence.
- Nadine’s trial was delayed due to breast cancer surgery in 2023.
Deep Look
In a stunning verdict handed down Monday in Manhattan, Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted of conspiring with her husband to accept a series of lavish bribes. These included cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle, all offered by three New Jersey businessmen seeking political favors and legal intervention.
The unanimous jury decision concluded a three-week trial that closely followed the arc of the Menendezes’ relationship—from its beginnings in early 2018 through their 2020 marriage, and ultimately into scandal with criminal charges filed in September 2023. Throughout the trial, prosecutors described the couple as literal “partners in crime.”
Luxury and Corruption
The scheme reached its climax when FBI agents raided the couple’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey home in 2022. There, they discovered nearly $150,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash hidden in boots, jackets, and shoeboxes. In the garage sat a Mercedes-Benz convertible, also deemed a bribe.
According to prosecutors, Nadine Menendez played a key role in the scheme by acting as a go-between for her husband and foreign and domestic interests, particularly Egyptian officials and influential businessmen in New Jersey. She allegedly began arranging bribes before their marriage, when she was at risk of losing her home due to mortgage delinquency.
Bribes with a Price
One of the businessmen, Wael Hana, a long-time friend of Nadine, provided cash to help her avoid foreclosure. In exchange, Bob Menendez used his influence as a powerful senator—then Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—to help Hana maintain a lucrative monopoly over halal meat certification with the Egyptian government.
Another key bribe came from Jose Uribe, who gifted Nadine the Mercedes-Benz after she fatally struck a pedestrian with her previous car (she was not charged in the crash). In return, Bob Menendez allegedly pressured New Jersey’s attorney general to drop investigations involving Uribe’s associates.
A third businessman, Fred Daibes, a well-known real estate developer, allegedly provided more cash and gold to gain the senator’s help with a pending criminal case and to secure a $95 million investment from a Qatari fund.
All three men—Hana, Uribe, and Daibes—have either pleaded guilty or been convicted. Hana has been sentenced to eight years, and Daibes received seven years behind bars. Uribe, who testified against the Menendezes, is cooperating with prosecutors.
Political Fallout and Legal Consequences
Bob Menendez, 71, was convicted in a separate trial in 2023 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, which he is set to begin serving this June. He resigned from the Senate following the conviction but maintained his innocence. In addition to bribery, he was also convicted of acting as an unregistered agent for a foreign government, a rare and serious charge for a U.S. lawmaker.
Prosecutors claimed Menendez ghostwrote a letter for Egyptian officials aimed at persuading U.S. senators to release $300 million in military aid to Egypt, despite ongoing concerns about human rights violations in the region.
Nadine Menendez, 58, delayed her trial due to a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery last year. Her health concerns postponed what was originally a joint trial with her husband and the three businessmen. Despite defense attorney Barry Coburn’s claims that the evidence was circumstantial and insufficient, the jury sided with prosecutors, who said the pattern of bribes was “consistent and overwhelming.”
Coburn argued that the Menendezes were merely engaging in typical constituent service and that the evidence lacked the weight to prove corruption beyond a reasonable doubt. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal rebutted that argument forcefully, highlighting the luxury items and hidden cash as clear evidence of quid pro quo.
What Comes Next
Nadine Menendez’s sentencing is scheduled for June 12, just six days after her husband is expected to report to federal prison. Her conviction closes another chapter in what has become one of the most high-profile political corruption scandals in recent U.S. history.
Prosecutors emphasized throughout the case that this was more than a story of greed—it was about abuse of public trust, foreign influence in American politics, and the power of access.
As both Menendezes prepare to face sentencing and incarceration, the case serves as a stark reminder of how personal enrichment can collide with public responsibility—and how the justice system still holds powerful figures accountable.
Nadine Menendez Convicted
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