Prosecutors seek 15-year sentence for former NJ Sen. Bob Menendez after bribery conviction

federal prosecutors say disgraced former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez he should be jailed for 15 years after his conviction in a “low-profile long-term bribery and foreign influence scheme”. On Friday, prosecutors filed a 108-page briefing outlining their arguments to convict Menendez, as well as Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were convicted along with the former lawmaker.

In their briefing, prosecutors emphasized the seriousness and depth of the crimes and noted their historical significance.

“As demonstrated at trial, the defendants engaged, for years, in a scheme of corruption and foreign influence of astonishing brazenness, breadth and duration, which resulted in exceptionally serious abuses of power at the highest levels of government legislature of United States Government,” prosecutors wrote.

Menendez is seen leaving Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024 in New York City. (MEGA/GC images)

Prosecutors believe Menendez should be thrown behind bars for the “heinous” crimes they say showed “bare greed” and a “sense of entitlement to turn public trust into private and personal gain.”

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Menendez is due in federal court in New York City on September 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The disgraced former Democrat was charged and convicted of participating in a years-long bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez’s wife, Nadine, who will be sentenced on January 21, also allegedly participated in the scheme. He is accused of receiving paychecks for a job that did not exist.

“Menendez, sworn to represent the United States and the state of New Jersey, put his high office up for sale in exchange for this pile of bribes,” prosecutors said in the brief.

Menendez arrives in Manhattan federal court on Oct. 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

DEMOCRATIC SENSE. BOB MENENDEZ GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES IN FEDERAL CORRUPTION PROCESS

Menendez, who was indicted in 2023, made history in July 2024 when he became the first US senator to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent. His conviction came after a nine-week trial. The former Democratic congressman was accused of accepting gifts totaling more than $100,000 in gold bullion and cash.

His sentencing is currently scheduled for January 29, 2025.

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Jamie Joseph, Anders Hagstrom and Maria Paroch contributed to this report.