Crypto-Critic Senator Bob Menendez Convicted on Corruption
Bob Menendez, the former U.S. senator who railed against crypto, has been handed an 11-year prison sentence. The charges? Bribery and secretly working as a foreign agent—a downfall as dramatic as his political career.
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The trial unfolded in Manhattan’s federal court, with Judge Sidney H. Stein overseeing the case.
After 18 years in the Senate, Bob Menendez has been found guilty on 16 counts, including bribery, fraud, and secretly working in Egypt’s interest. According to prosecutors, he used his political sway to push military aid for Egypt and interfere in court cases for associates—all while pocketing cash, gold bars, and luxury cars in return.
The 2022 raid on Menendez’s home exposed a hidden fortune—gold bars worth $150,000 and stacks of cash totaling nearly half a million dollars. Prosecutors insisted this was just a fraction of the dirty money he had taken in bribes.
Judge Sidney Stein delivered a scathing rebuke, stating that Menendez had “lost his way” and twisted public service into a personal cash machine. Prosecutors pushed for a 15-year sentence, calling his corruption as bold as it was disgraceful.
Menendez made a career out of bashing Bitcoin, labeling it “a tool for criminals” and “the ultimate financial bubble.” He fought against its legalization in El Salvador, arguing that crypto would empower scammers, corrupt officials, and terrorists.
His own corruption scandal? Ironically fitting. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele summed it up perfectly: “A thief always sees himself in others.”
In August 2024, under mounting legal pressure, Bob Menendez left the Senate. His defense team begged for a lighter sentence, citing his age (71) and a career in shambles—but the court wasn’t swayed.
This scandal will be remembered as one of the most notorious corruption cases in modern U.S. politics, serving as a stark reminder that no public official is above accountability.
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