A New York City jury convicted the New Jersey senator of accepting bribes to benefit businessmen in his home state and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez said he chose not to testify at his trial because he believes prosecutors failed to prove the bribery case against him. Closing arguments may begin as early as Monday.
Sen. Robert Menendez, a powerful Democrat from New Jersey, goes on trial in Manhattan on federal corruption charges. Two New Jersey businessmen accused of bribing him are his co-defendants.
Democrats are abandoning New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez in the wake of his federal indictment in a corruption scheme involving his wife and local businessmen.
The indictment accuses Menendez of accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using" his power and influence to enrich him, his co-defendants and the government of Egypt.
The Justice Department alleges Sen. Bob Menendez accepted gifts from a friend including flights, trips to France and the Dominican Republic, and large political contributions.