After months of battling it out in federal court — and in the court of public opinion — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.
) will reportedly resign from his seat in Congress after being convicted on charges of bribery and corruption. According to multiple outlets , the lawmaker has told close advisers and staff that he plans to step down from his Senate seat on August 20. Earlier this month, Menendez was found guilty on charges related to a bribery and improper foreign-aid scheme detailed by New York prosecutors over the course of three indictments.
Menendez was convicted on 16 felony counts including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion, and acting as a foreign agent. Prosecutors alleged in September that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, “agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using Menendez’s power and influence as a senator to seek to protect and enrich” three businessmen: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes. Among the bribes accepted by the Menendez’s were envelopes of cash, solid bars of gold, and luxury vehicles.
Prosecutors leveled additional charges against Menendez related to the abuse of his elected office to unlawfully aid the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Trending 'Love Island USA's' Miguel Harichi Wants His Relationship With Leah Kateb to Go Beyond the Villa Kamala Harris Walks Out to Beyoncé's 'Freedom' for First Speech Since Biden Dropped Out .