Robert Menendez · public corruption · criminal prosecution · foreign influence
Was Bob Menendez convicted of bribery and acting as a foreign agent, and is his appeal still pending?
As of 30 October 2026, Robert Menendez stands convicted and is serving an 11-year federal prison sentence imposed on 29 January 2025. A jury in the Southern District of New York convicted him on all 16 counts on 16 July 2024, including bribery, extortion, honest services wire fraud, obstruction and acting as a foreign agent. He denies wrongdoing, and his appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit was pending with no decision as of this date.
Last verified 30 October 2026. United States
The record at a glance
| What was alleged? | Federal prosecutors alleged that from 2018 to 2022 Senator Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold bars and a convertible car, from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for using his office to benefit them and the Government of Egypt.1 |
|---|---|
| Who made the claim? | US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, 22 September 2023 |
| How did Bob Menendez respond? | Menendez's position is that he never acted as a foreign agent and never violated his oath. He said he would appeal, and on appeal his lawyers argue the convictions rest on evidence barred by the Speech or Debate Clause and on a failure to prove any agreement to take official action.2,3 (the subject's position) |
| Was there an official finding? | A federal jury found Menendez guilty on 16 July 2024 on all 16 counts charged against him, including bribery, extortion under color of official right, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.4,5 On 29 January 2025 Judge Sidney H. Stein sentenced him to 11 years in prison and ordered forfeiture of $922,188.10.5 He resigned from the US Senate effective 20 August 2024.6 |
| Was liability determined? | Yes, liability was determined. Convicted by jury verdict on 16 July 2024 and sentenced on 29 January 2025. The judgment is under appeal in the Second Circuit (No. 25-333, consolidated under No. 25-296). The conviction has not been vacated.5,7 |
| What changed later? | As of 30 October 2026 Menendez is serving his 11-year sentence in federal custody while his Second Circuit appeal, argued in September 2026 according to press reports, awaits decision.7,8,9,10 |
| When was this checked? | 30 October 2026 |
What was alleged?
Federal prosecutors alleged that from 2018 to 2022 Senator Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold bars and a convertible car, from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for using his office to benefit them and the Government of Egypt.1
Made by US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on 22 September 2023.
What did Bob Menendez say?
Menendez's position is that he never acted as a foreign agent and never violated his oath. He said he would appeal, and on appeal his lawyers argue the convictions rest on evidence barred by the Speech or Debate Clause and on a failure to prove any agreement to take official action.2,3
"I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent"
Robert Menendez, speaking after the verdict (reported by the Associated Press), 16 July 2024. This is the subject's own account, not a finding.
What do independent records show?
Indictment unsealed, United States v. Menendez et al.
US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, 22 September 2023
Charged Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes with bribery offenses. The release stated the charges were accusations and the defendants were presumed innocent.1
Jury verdict, Case 1:23-cr-00490-SHS
US District Court for the Southern District of New York (jury), 16 July 2024
After a nine-week trial the jury convicted Menendez on all 16 counts charged against him in the superseding indictment, and convicted Hana and Daibes.4,5
Governor's statement on receipt of resignation letter
Office of the Governor of New Jersey, 23 July 2024
Menendez notified the Governor in writing that he would resign from the Senate effective 20 August 2024.6
Sentencing before US District Judge Sidney H. Stein
US District Court for the Southern District of New York, 29 January 2025
Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $922,188.10. No separate sentence was imposed on the foreign agent conspiracy count.5
Opening brief of Defendant-Appellant Robert Menendez, Nos. 25-296(L), 25-302, 25-333
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 10 June 2025
Asks the court to vacate the convictions, raising the Speech or Debate Clause, the proof of official action, the foreign agent statute, the obstruction counts and venue.3
What was established?
- A federal jury found Menendez guilty on 16 July 2024 on all 16 counts charged against him, including bribery, extortion under color of official right, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.4,5
- On 29 January 2025 Judge Sidney H. Stein sentenced him to 11 years in prison and ordered forfeiture of $922,188.10.5
- He resigned from the US Senate effective 20 August 2024.6
Distinctions that matter here
- A jury verdict followed by sentence is a conviction. A pending appeal does not suspend or erase it unless the appeals court vacates it.
- Acting as a foreign agent while a public official (18 U.S.C. 219) is a criminal offense distinct from bribery.
Was liability determined?
Yes, liability was determined. Convicted by jury verdict on 16 July 2024 and sentenced on 29 January 2025. The judgment is under appeal in the Second Circuit (No. 25-333, consolidated under No. 25-296). The conviction has not been vacated.5,7
What remains unresolved?
- The Second Circuit has not yet ruled on the consolidated appeals of Robert Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes.
- Whether any request for clemency will be acted on. No grant of clemency had been identified as of 30 October 2026.
What is the current status?
As of 30 October 2026 Menendez is serving his 11-year sentence in federal custody while his Second Circuit appeal, argued in September 2026 according to press reports, awaits decision.7,8,9,10
As of 30 October 2026. No next proceeding is scheduled in the records we found.
Timeline
- Indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York.1
- Jury convicts Menendez on all 16 counts.4
- Resignation from the Senate takes effect.6
- Sentenced to 11 years in prison.5
- Notice of appeal filed and Second Circuit appeal No. 25-333 opened.7
- Menendez surrenders to federal custody at FCI Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, after a Second Circuit panel denied his request to remain free pending appeal by 2 votes to 1.9,11
- Transferred to the Low Security Correctional Institution at Allenwood, Pennsylvania, according to New Jersey Globe.10
- Second Circuit panel hears oral argument on the consolidated appeals, according to press reports.8
Sources
- US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, His Wife, And Three New Jersey Businessmen Charged With Bribery Offenses, 22 September 2023 · document record Government, parliamentary or audit document
- PBS NewsHour, New Jersey jury convicts Sen. Bob Menendez for accepting bribes of cash, gold and a car (Associated Press), 16 July 2024 Independent reporting
- Courthouse News Service (hosted filing), Brief for Defendant-Appellant Robert Menendez, Second Circuit Nos. 25-296(L), 25-302, 25-333, 10 June 2025 · document record Filing or formal statement by the subject
- US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Convictions Of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez And Two New Jersey Businessmen, 16 July 2024 · document record Government, parliamentary or audit document
- US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison For Bribery, Foreign Agent, And Obstruction Offenses, 29 January 2025 · document record Government, parliamentary or audit document
- Office of the Governor of New Jersey, Governor Murphy statement on Senator Menendez resignation, 23 July 2024 · document record Government, parliamentary or audit document
- Justia Dockets (US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit), United States of America v. Menendez (Robert Menendez), No. 25-333, docket, 13 February 2025 · document record Court, legislation, official register or regulator record
- uPolitics, Ex-Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez Asks Court To Toss Corruption Conviction For Accepting Gold Bars and Cash From Egyptian Agents, 24 September 2026 Secondary commentary
- Colorado Politics, Bob Menendez turns himself in to federal prison for 11-year sentence (Washington Examiner), 17 June 2025 Independent reporting
- New Jersey Globe, Bob Menendez transferred to low security prison, 7 July 2025 Independent reporting
- The Hill, Appeals court denies Bob Menendez's bid to stay out of prison, 11 June 2025 Independent reporting
Revision history
- 30 October 2026: First published after source verification.
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