STORY: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was convicted on all 16 criminal counts - including bribery - in his federal corruption trial Tuesday, completing the once-powerful New Jersey Democrat's dramatic downfall.
After deliberating for more than 12 hours over three days, the jury reached a verdict in a trial that had taken nine weeks to complete.
Menendez had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included acting as a foreign agent and obstructing justice.
Menendez on 9/25/23: "the allegations leveled against me are just that: allegations."
The trial centered on what federal prosecutors called several overlapping bribery schemes in which the senator and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and car and mortgage payments from three businessmen who wanted his help.
In exchange for bribes, Menendez helped steer billions of dollars in American aid to Egypt, where one of the businessman had ties to government officials, according to prosecutors.
Menendez was also accused of seeking to influence criminal probes involving two other businessmen.
After the verdict Tuesday, Menendez - a fixture in Washington for more than three decades - said he would appeal.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, immediately called on Menendez to resign in order to "do what is right for his constituents, the Senate and our country."
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, also a Democrat, said that if Menendez declines to resign, the Senate should vote to expel him.
Menendez's sentencing is set for Oct. 29, a week before the Nov. 5 election in which he is running as an independent in a bid for another six-year term in the Senate, but is considered a long shot to win.
