US Senator Robert Menendez, Wife Face Bribery Charges: Will It Cast Shadow On Menendez's Career?

A federal court indicted Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife on criminal bribery charges for allegedly maintaining a "corrupt relationship" with three New Jersey businessmen following a federal investigation into bribery and corruption that left Menendez's office in controversy.

The indictment alleged that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, received "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in bribes and used the senator's influence to enrich several businessmen from New Jersey and the Egyptian government.

Officials with the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation were looking to determine whether Daibes or his associates gave the senator's wife gold bars worth as much as $400,000.

Menendez "promised to and did use his influence and power and breach his official duty to recommend that the President nominate an individual for U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who Menendez believed could be influenced by Menendez with respect to the federal prosecution of Fred Daibes," a New Jersey developer, the indictment said.

"Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe—was discovered in the home, along with over $70,000 in Nadine Menendez's safe deposit box," the indictment said.

Menendez had previously faced charges in New Jersey, where he was accused of accepting private flights, campaign contributions, and other favors from a wealthy benefactor in exchange for official favors. However, a trial in 2017 resulted in a hung jury.