Wife of Senator Menendez, Convicted on All Counts in Bribery Case

Nadine Menendez, wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted Monday on all 15 counts in a federal bribery case involving political favors and payments from New Jersey businessmen. The charges included bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy for acting as a foreign agent. The Manhattan jury found her guilty of accepting bribes—including cash, gold bars, and a luxury car—from three New Jersey businessmen seeking political favors.

Her trial followed her husband’s 2024 conviction for similar charges; Bob Menendez is slated to begin an 11-year prison term in June. Prosecutors detailed how the couple, described as “partners in crime,” began accepting bribes starting in 2018, soon after they began dating and just prior to their 2020 marriage.

The FBI uncovered $150,000 in gold and $480,000 in cash during a 2022 raid at their home. Nadine Menendez was linked to helping her husband facilitate bribery-related communications, including aiding a businessman in maintaining a meat certification monopoly with Egypt and obtaining a $95 million investment for another. She is scheduled for sentencing on June 12.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated, “Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime. Over the span of five years, Nadine Menendez agreed to accept and accepted all sorts of bribes—including gold bars, cash, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, and a no-show job—all in exchange for the Senator’s corrupt official acts.” He added that the verdict “sends the clear message that the power of government officials may not be put up for sale, and that all those who facilitate corruption will be held accountable for their actions.”