Bob Menendez

Bob Menendez
Official portrait, 2022
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office January 17, 2006 – August 20, 2024
Preceded by	Jon Corzine
Succeeded by	George Helmy
Committee positions 2009–⁠2023 Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office February 3, 2021 – September 22, 2023 Preceded by Jim Risch Succeeded by Ben Cardin In office February 1, 2013 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by John Kerry Succeeded by Bob Corker Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office February 6, 2018 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Ben Cardin Succeeded by Jim Risch In office January 3, 2015 – April 2, 2015 Preceded by Bob Corker Succeeded by Ben Cardin Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 Leader Harry Reid Preceded by Chuck Schumer Succeeded by Patty Murray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 16, 2006
Preceded by	Frank Joseph Guarini
Succeeded by	Albio Sires
House positions 1999–⁠2006 Chair of the House Democratic Caucus In office January 3, 2003 – January 16, 2006 Leader Nancy Pelosi Preceded by Martin Frost Succeeded by Jim Clyburn Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 Leader Nancy Pelosi Preceded by Barbara B. Kennelly Succeeded by Jim Clyburn
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 33rd district
In office March 4, 1991 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Christopher Jackman
Succeeded by	Bernard Kenny
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 33rd district
In office January 12, 1988 – March 4, 1991
Preceded by	Jose Arango Ronald Dario
Succeeded by	Louis Romano
Mayor of Union City
In office May 20, 1986 – November 15, 1992
Preceded by	Arthur Wichert
Succeeded by	Bruce Walter
Personal details
Born	Robert Menendez (1954-01-01) January 1, 1954 (age 71) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Jane Jacobsen ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 2005)​ Nadine Arslanian ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	Alicia Rob
Education	Saint Peter's University (BA) Rutgers Law School (JD)
Signature
Menendez's voice Menendez speaks on the repeal of the 2002 authorizations for use of military force against Iraq Recorded March 16, 2023
Criminal information
Status	Incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill
Convictions	Bribery (2 counts) Wire fraud (3 counts) Extortion (3 counts) Obstruction of justice Being a public official acting as a foreign agent Conspiracy (7 counts)[a]
Criminal penalty	11 years in prison
Date apprehended	September 22, 2023

Robert Menendez (/mɛˈnɛndɛz/; born January 1, 1954) is an American politician and lawyer who represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 2006^[1] until his resignation in 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he also represented New Jersey's 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2006. His political career ended after he was convicted in a political corruption case in 2024, making him the first sitting member of Congress convicted of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.^[2][3]

In 1974, Menendez was elected to the Union City School District's Board of Education. He studied political science at Saint Peter's University and graduated from Rutgers Law School. In 1986, he was elected mayor of Union City. While continuing to serve as mayor, he was elected in 1988 to represent the state's 33rd district in the New Jersey General Assembly and moved to the New Jersey Senate in 1991 upon winning the special election for the 33rd Senate district. The next year, Menendez won a seat in the House of Representatives. In January 2006, Menendez was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine to fill his vacated Senate seat. He was elected to a full six-year term in November and reelected in 2012 and 2018. Menendez chaired the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2023.

Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges in 2015; the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and the charges were dropped in 2018. In 2018, the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics "severely admonished" Menendez for accepting gifts from donor Salomon Melgen without obtaining committee approval, failing to disclose certain gifts, and using his position as a senator to advance Melgen's interests.

In September 2023, Menendez was again indicted on federal corruption charges that he aided and provided sensitive information to the government of Egypt.^[4][5] The following month, he was charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent of the Egyptian government^[6] for accepting bribes in exchange for promoting Egypt's opposition to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile and for trying to convince the U.S. State Department to adopt Egypt's stance on this issue. A superseding indictment in January 2024 accused Menendez of also working for the government of Qatar. In March 2024, Menendez was indicted for obstruction of justice.^[7] In July 2024, a jury found him guilty of all charges.^[8] Menendez resigned from the Senate in August 2024^[9][10] and was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in January 2025.^[11][12] He has maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal the verdict.^[13] Menendez is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill.

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