Sen. Bob Menendez found guilty in corruption trial

Sen.Bob Menendezon Tuesday was found guilty in his corruption trial, a historic verdict marking a dramatic downfall for New Jersey’s senior senator who was one of the most influential people in Washington D.C.

The 12-member jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts after a two-month trial on charges that all but ended his political career. Federal prosecutors accused Menendez of bribery, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, obstruction of justice, extortion and conspiring to commit those crimes.

He is seeking reelection to the Senate as an independent, although the guilty verdict quickly raises the prospect of an expulsion vote unless he opts to resign from office. He’s already faced calls to resign from his former Democratic allies in New Jersey and on Capitol Hill.

It is now up to U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein to determine the 70-year-old Menendez’s sentence. He faces decades in prison.

Federal prosecutors in New York announced the bombshell indictment against Menendez last fall, describing a years-long bribery scheme involving Menendez, his wife Nadine Menendez and three New Jersey businesspeople. The alleged bribes began flowing shortly after the senator’s 2017 corruption trial ended in a hung jury. Two of the businesspeople — Wael “Will” Hana and Fred Daibes — were also found guilty, while the third, Jose Uribe, made a plea deal and testified against Menendez.