Senator Bob Menendez found guilty: What are the consequences?

Senator Bob Menendez, a long-serving Democratic politician from New Jersey, has been found guilty on all 16 counts of corruption and bribery charges following a high-profile trial in New York.

The jury’s verdict, reached after more than12 hours of deliberation, marks a significant downfall for the veteran senator.

Prosecutors alleged that Menendez accepted a range of bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle, from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for leveraging his political influence to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

The senator was accused of using his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to steer millions in US aid to Egypt and soften criticism of the country’s human rights abuses, all while receiving personal financial rewards.

What happens next?

This conviction comes just months before Menendez was set to run for reelection, potentially dooming any hopes of a political comeback. The Democratic party has already nominated Rep. Andy Kim to run for Menendez’s Senate seat, while the Republican nominee is Curtis Bashaw.

Menendez now faces the prospect of 222 years in prison, a devastating blow to his long career in public service. The verdict also raises questions about the future of his congressional pension, though he will be allowed to retain it while exhausting his appeals.