Verdict reached on anti-Türkiye US senator
Former Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who was on trial in the US for bribery and corruption charges, has been found guilty by a jury.
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The verdict was announced following a 9-week trial at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts, which included charges of accepting bribes, obstructing justice by pressuring investigations into himself, and acting as a foreign agent.
It is stated that Menendez could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the counts on which he was found guilty.
Menendez became the first US senator to be found guilty by a jury of "acting as a foreign agent."
The sentencing hearing for Menendez will be held on October 29.
"HE MUST BE EXPELLED"
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for his resignation following his conviction on all charges. Senator Cory Booker issued the same call.
Later, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated that if convicted Senator Bob Menendez does not resign, he should be expelled by the US Senate.
Speaking to reporters after his conviction, Menendez said he would appeal. Stating that "the decision that I worked for a foreign country endangers the activities of all members of Congress," Menendez expressed hope that the verdict would be overturned on appeal. He did not respond to questions about whether he would resign.
INVESTIGATION INTO MENENDEZ AND HIS WIFE
In the 39-page indictment first filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 22, 2023, Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine (Arslanian) Menendez were accused of being involved in a wide-ranging bribery scheme in exchange for political favors.
In addition to the gold bars and hidden cash found during the search of his home, the indictment highlighted Menendez's influence on official aid to Egypt during his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—a position that gave him a say in military aid to foreign countries—as well as his relationships with Egyptian-American businesspeople and firms in New Jersey.
Forced to step down as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the day after the charges were filed, Menendez resisted pressure from his party and the public, stating that he would not resign from his seat in Congress.
The initial indictment against Menendez was later expanded to include charges of using his political position to benefit Qatar.
KNOWN FOR HIS ANTI-TÜRKİYE STANCE
The son of Cuban immigrant parents, Menendez is known in the US Congress for his anti-Türkiye stance and his proximity to the Greek and Armenian lobbies. Menendez was at the forefront of those opposing the sale of F-16s from the US to Türkiye, and he frequently voiced his discomfort with Türkiye's policies in the Mediterranean and the Aegean.