Former powerful Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, reported on Tuesday to the Federal Correctional Institution in Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, to begin serving his 11-year prison sentence.
His conviction for corruption dates back to last year.
The facility houses approximately 1,200 inmates in both medium- and minimum-security units, according to CBS News.
The former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, aged 71, had initially been ordered to report on June 6 but was granted a delay to attend his stepdaughter’s wedding in Massachusetts.
Menendez was found guilty of accepting large sums of cash, gold bars worth $150,000, and a luxury vehicle in exchange for political favors. He allegedly protected New Jersey businessmen from investigations and helped Egypt gain access to $300 million in U.S. military aid.
FBI agents seized $480,000 in cash during a search of his home.
A few months after his conviction, Menendez resigned from his Senate seat, a position he had held since 2006.
Two businessmen involved in the case were also convicted, along with his wife, Nadine Menendez, who was found guilty in April. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2025.
Despite his sentence, Menendez maintains his innocence. He failed in his appeal to be granted bail. During his sentencing hearing in January, he pleaded for a lighter sentence, stating:
“I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. But I’ve done far more good than bad.”
He also suggested that he may seek a pardon from President Donald Trump, denouncing what he described as a “political” and “corrupt to the core” judicial system:
“This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.”
The former senator had done everything he could to avoid prison and remain in the Senate. He initially announced he would run for reelection, but the Democratic establishment forced him to step aside.
During his time in the Senate, Menendez was known as a strong advocate for the Latino community in the United States.
Source: CBS News.
