Federal jury finds Nadine Menendez guilty of taking bribes, obstructing justice

The wife of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez from New Jersey was convicted Monday on federal bribery and corruption charges after a jury found she conspired with her husband to trade his political influence for cash, gold and other luxury gifts.

The Manhattan jury convicted Nadine Menendez of 15 counts, including bribery and obstruction of justice. Her husband was convicted for his role in the scheme last year and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

“Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime,” Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement after her conviction. “Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve.”

Both Nadine and Bob Menendez maintained their innocence throughout their trials.

At her three-week trial, prosecutors introduced a range of evidence that showed how she accepted money and other goods from New Jersey businessmen who sought political influence from the senator.

One of the businessmen, Jose Uribe, gave Nadine a Mercedes-Benz, prosecutors told jurors. In exchange, Bob Menendez used his political sway to pressure the New Jersey attorney general to stop investigating people linked to Uribe, officials said.

A real estate developer in the Garden State also gave the couple gold bars and cash in exchange for protection in a criminal case he faced in the state, prosecutors charged.

Nadine is scheduled to be sentenced in June, days after her husband is due to begin serving his prison sentence.