The wife of former US Senator Robert Menendez has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for aiding her husband in a bribery scheme involving stacks of cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz.
Nadine Menendez, 58, was convicted in April of 15 counts, including bribery, after jurors found she acted as a conduit for her husband and Egyptian officials, relaying messages and arranging meetings.
I put my life in his hands and he strung me like a puppet, she told the judge, sobbing, before her sentencing on Thursday.
Her husband was convicted last year and sentenced to 11 years for the scheme that also led to his political downfall. Prosecutors had described her as indispensable to the plot.
On Thursday morning, Menendez wept as she addressed the judge.
I now know, he's not my saviour. He's not the man I thought he was, she told the judge referring to her husband.
At the time of the scheme, Robert Menendez was the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a powerful role that gave him significant influence over US foreign policy. Prosecutors said the couple exploited his position to secretly aid the Egyptian government's interests in Washington.
District Judge Sidney H Stein sentenced Menendez to 54 months, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar crimes in the future. He stated, People have to understand there are consequences..
Menendez will not begin her sentence until next summer, allowing her to complete required medical procedures, after being diagnosed with breast cancer during the legal proceedings.
A 2022 FBI search at the couple's New Jersey home uncovered more than $100,000 worth of gold bars and cash hidden in various locations. The investigation yielded evidence of dubious text messages and a Google search by Robert Menendez inquiring about the price of gold.
Others implicated in the scheme include Fred Daibes, a property developer, and Wael Hana, who were also charged and convicted. Insurance broker Jose Uribe pleaded guilty to related charges earlier this year.
