Bob Menendez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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United States Senator from New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 17, 2006 – August 20, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jon Corzine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | George Helmy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 3, 1993 – January 16, 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Frank Joseph Guarini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Albio Sires | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 33rd district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office March 4, 1991 – January 3, 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Christopher Jackman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Bernard Kenny | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 33rd district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 12, 1988 – March 4, 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jose Arango Ronald Dario | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Louis Romano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor of Union City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office May 20, 1986 – November 15, 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Arthur Wichert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Bruce Walter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Robert Menendez January 1, 1954 New York City, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouses |
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Children | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Criminal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conviction(s) |
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Date apprehended | September 22, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Menendez (/mɛˈnɛndɛz/; born January 1, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from New Jersey from 2006[1] until his resignation in 2024 following his conviction on 16 counts in a political corruption case.[2][3][4] A member of the Democratic Party and the Cuban–American lobby, he was first appointed to the Senate by Governor Jon Corzine, and chaired the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2023.
In 1974, at age 20, Menendez was elected to the Union City School District's Board of Education. He received degrees from Saint Peter's University and Rutgers Law School. In 1986, he was elected mayor of Union City. In 1988, while continuing to serve as mayor, he was elected to represent the state's 33rd district in the New Jersey General Assembly and, within three years, moved to the New Jersey Senate, upon winning the March 1991 special election for the 33rd Senate district. The next year, Menendez won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented New Jersey's 13th congressional district for six two-year terms, from 1993 to 2006. In January 2006, Menendez was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jon Corzine (who had been elected governor of New Jersey). He was elected to a full six-year term in November and reelected in 2012 and 2018.
In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges; the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and the charges were dropped in 2018. In April 2018, the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics "severely admonished" Menendez for accepting gifts from donor Salomon Melgen without obtaining committee approval, for failing to disclose certain gifts, and for using his position as a senator to advance Melgen's interests. In September 2023, Menendez was again indicted on federal corruption charges that he aided and provided sensitive information to the government of Egypt.[5][6] He stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but refused to resign from the Senate and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, despite calls to resign from numerous state and congressional Democrats, including 30 of his Senate colleagues. In an October 2023 indictment, Menendez was charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent of the Egyptian government;[7] a superseding indictment in January 2024 also accused Menendez of working for the government of Qatar. In March 2024, Menendez was indicted again, for obstruction of justice.[8]
Menendez is also accused of accepting bribes from the government of Egypt in exchange for promoting Egypt's opposition to the construction and use of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. He reportedly tried to convince the U.S. State Department to adopt Egypt's stance on this issue against Ethiopia. The indictment did not allege any clear connection between his actions and President Trump's subsequent threat. But about seven months later, Trump threatened that Egypt might attempt to destroy the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam being built by Ethiopia.[9][10][11][12]
In July 2024, a jury found Menendez guilty of all charges in his federal corruption trial.[13] He is the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of conspiracy by a public official to act as a foreign agent.[3] Menendez initially said he had no plans to resign, but later that month it was reported that he would resign from the Senate effective August 20.[14][15]
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