Mahkatop
Mahkatop — U.S. Senator Robert Menendez submitted his resignation on Tuesday (July 23) after being found guilty of corruption and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. The resignation will take effect on August 20, 2024, according to a letter from Menendez published by Reuters on Wednesday (July 24, 2024).
Menendez (70) was found guilty by a jury in federal court in Manhattan on July 16 on 16 criminal charges, including obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and extortion. The nine-week trial also resulted in convictions for two co-defendants.
In his resignation letter, Menendez expressed his intention to appeal the jury’s decision, even up to the Supreme Court. However, he stated that he did not want the lengthy process to interfere with the Senate’s important work.
“Although I will appeal the jury’s decision, including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from their important work,” Menendez wrote.
Prosecutors in the trial revealed a bribery scheme involving Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, who received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars, and payments for a car and mortgage from three businessmen. In return, Menendez directed billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Egypt and attempted to influence criminal charges against two of the businessmen. (*)
