11-Year Prison Sentence After Bribery Conviction

Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has officially begun serving an 11-year federal prison sentence following his 2024 conviction on multiple bribery and corruption charges. The 71-year-old Democrat, who represented New Jersey in the Senate for nearly 20 years, reported to FCI Schuylkill, a medium-security prison in Pennsylvania, on July 16, 2025.

Menendez was found guilty on all 16 counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors accused him of accepting bribes such as gold bars, luxury items, envelopes of cash, and even a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for political favors benefiting three New Jersey businessmen and foreign governments, including Egypt and Qatar.

Nicknamed “Gold Bar Bob” during the sensational trial, Menendez became the focus of one of the most serious political corruption scandals in recent Senate history. Evidence included fingerprints on hidden cash and photos of the lavish bribes he allegedly received while leveraging his power as a senator and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Despite the conviction, Menendez has consistently maintained his innocence. He sought to delay his prison term, citing personal matters including the legal case facing his wife, Nadine Menendez, who is also charged in the scandal. The court, however, denied his requests and ordered him to begin his sentence as scheduled.

Efforts to obtain a reduced sentence or a presidential pardon—reportedly including appeals to Donald Trump—have so far failed. His legal team is preparing an appeal.

Menendez’s dramatic fall from power has sparked renewed calls for ethics reform in Washington and left a lasting stain on New Jersey’s political landscape.