Former Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been permanently banned from holding any public office in the state following his conviction for accepting bribes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold bars and cash. This decision was announced by the New Jersey Attorney General.

In January, Menendez received an 11-year prison sentence and is barred from occupying any position of public trust within the state. New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy issued this ruling, reinforcing the court’s stance on his actions.

In July 2024, Menendez was found guilty on 16 charges, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Notably, he is the first U.S. senator convicted of acting as a foreign agent, and he now holds the record for the most severe sentence ever given to a senator.

In a statement, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in government institutions. “To preserve faith in government, those who exploit their offices for criminal purposes must not be allowed to regain power,” Platkin stated. He added that the court’s decision aims to combat the cynical perception of pervasive political corruption in New Jersey.

Menendez, who previously chaired the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, will face additional legal consequences if he attempts to seek public office or public employment again, as this would constitute a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge.

Menendez, the former chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, will face a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge if he ever applies for public office or public employment.

Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, arrive at the federal courthouse in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.  (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

According to federal prosecutors, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepted bribes between 2018 and 2022. Along with gold bars and cash, they also received a luxury convertible car, home furnishings and other items of value, the state attorney general’s office said. She was also accused of receiving paychecks for a job that did not exist.

In exchange, the senator agreed to use his power and influence on Capitol Hill to protect the bribe payers’ interests and to benefit foreign countries, including by taking a series of official acts to benefit the government of Egypt.

The indictment against Menendez came after co-defendant Jose Uribe — who allegedly gifted Nadine a Mercedes convertible — accepted a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. 

Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at the Manhattan federal courthouse on Oct. 23, 2023, in New York City.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Menendez had pleaded his innocence and claimed the process was political and “corrupted to the core.”

“I hope President [Donald] Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system,” Menendez told reporters at his sentencing.