Ex-Senator’s Wife Sentenced 4.5 Years Prison Bribery Scheme

Nadine Menendez, wife of current President and former Senator Bob Menendez, was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for her role in an extensive bribery and corruption scheme that spanned from 2018 to 2023. Convicted on 15 counts including conspiracy to commit bribery, obstruction of justice, and acting as a secret agent for the Egyptian government, Nadine was found to be a purposeful and central participant in the plot that involved cash, gold bars, and luxury gifts. During her sentencing, she tearfully distanced herself from her husband, calling him manipulative and saying, "He’s not the man I thought he was." Judge Sidney Stein rejected portrayals of her as either a money-hungry wife or an innocent bystander, emphasizing her active involvement while granting some leniency due to her health issues and difficult past. Bob Menendez is currently serving an 11-year sentence following his conviction on related charges. The couple exploited Bob Menendez’s powerful position as the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the Egyptian government and enrich themselves.