Bribery Scandal: Nadine Menendez Found Guilty by Federal Jury

Judge's gavel and GUILTY sign on wooden table.

Nadine Menendez, wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was found guilty on all 15 counts in a high-profile bribery trial that has already sent her husband to prison for 11 years.

Quick Takes

Nadine Menendez was convicted on all 15 counts, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent.
She faces sentencing on June 12 by US District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan.
During a 2022 FBI raid, agents found $150,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash at the couple’s home.
Bob Menendez was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison and became the first U.S. senator found guilty of acting as a foreign agent.
Prosecutors described Nadine and Bob Menendez as “partners in crime” who accepted luxury bribes in exchange for political influence.

Guilty on All Charges

A federal jury in Manhattan delivered a unanimous guilty verdict against Nadine Menendez on April 21, 2025, finding her guilty on all 15 counts. The charges included bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. This conviction follows her husband Bob Menendez’s earlier conviction and sentencing to 11 years in prison in January. The former New Jersey senator resigned from his position following his conviction, ending a long political career that included serving as chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Bribery Scheme

Prosecutors successfully demonstrated that Nadine Menendez played a crucial role in facilitating bribes to her husband from Egyptian officials and New Jersey businessmen. The couple’s relationship began in early 2018, and according to evidence presented, the bribery scheme started shortly thereafter. Nadine, who faced financial difficulties including nearly losing her home before meeting Bob Menendez, was saved financially by cash from Wael Hana, a New Jersey businessman who was later convicted alongside the senator.

Wife of ex-senator Bob Menendez is found guilty of bribery, faces decades behind bars https://t.co/57YqyZX2Uy pic.twitter.com/HClMa31jSL

— The Independent (@Independent) April 22, 2025

During a 2022 FBI raid at the couple’s home, agents uncovered damning evidence: $150,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash hidden throughout the residence. These luxury items constituted part of the bribes the couple received, which also included a Mercedes-Benz from businessman Jose Uribe. In exchange for these gifts, Bob Menendez used his position to expedite Egypt’s access to U.S. military aid and interfere in local prosecutions that threatened his benefactors’ interests. The scheme represented a clear exchange of government power for personal enrichment.

A Network of Corruption

The case revealed an extensive network of corruption extending beyond the Menendez couple. New Jersey businessman Wael Hana facilitated meetings between Bob Menendez and Egyptian officials, effectively enabling foreign influence on U.S. policy. Businessman Fred Daibes was also convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the scheme. Jose Uribe, who provided the Mercedes-Benz to the couple, pleaded guilty and testified against the others, becoming a key witness for the prosecution.

Legal Consequences and Significance

Nadine Menendez is scheduled for sentencing on June 12 by US District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan. Her trial had been postponed due to her breast cancer treatment, but ultimately proceeded to its conclusion with the guilty verdict. Throughout the trial, the couple maintained their innocence, denying any bribe-taking despite the substantial physical evidence found in their home and testimonies from multiple witnesses involved in the scheme.

The conviction of both Bob and Nadine Menendez sends a strong message against corruption at the highest levels of government. Bob Menendez’s distinction as the first U.S. senator found guilty of acting as a foreign agent underscores the severity of these crimes. The verdict reinforces the principle that government power cannot be sold to the highest bidder, whether foreign governments or domestic business interests, without serious consequences for all involved parties.