The wife of former US Senator Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, 58, has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for her role in a bribery scheme that involved considerable amounts of cash, gold bars, and a luxury car. Nadine was convicted in April on 15 counts, including bribery, for acting as a go-between for her husband and Egyptian officials.
During her sentencing, Menendez expressed regret, stating, I put my life in his hands and he strung me like a puppet. Her husband, who previously faced similar charges in connection with the scheme, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Prosecutors described Nadine as vital to the illegal dealings, which included covert actions to aid the Egyptian government while Robert held a prominent position as the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The judge, Sidney H. Stein, highlighted the importance of deterrence through the sentenced time, particularly emphasizing that people have to understand there are consequences. The prosecution sought a more extended sentence of at least seven years.
Nadine's imprisonment will commence on July 10, allowing time for her to complete necessary medical procedures following a cancer diagnosis in 2022, which delayed her trial. Evidence against the couple included substantial cash and gold uncovered during an FBI search and text messages implicating them in the scheme.
Both Fred Daibes, a property developer, and Wael Hana, linked to a halal certification company, also faced charges for their involvement. Further, insurance broker Jose Uribe pled guilty to related charges earlier this year.
