NJ Permanently Bans Bob Menendez From Holding Public Office

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been permanently barred from holding any public office or “position of public trust” in New Jersey, the state’s attorney general announced Friday.

Menendez – a longtime Democratic senator in the Garden State – was convicted on several criminal counts in July 2024, including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors said that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes between 2018 and 2022 – including gold, cash, a luxury convertible and home furnishings.

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

Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison last January.

On Friday, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced that Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy has “forever disqualified” Menendez from holding office or any position of honor, trust or profit in state or local government.

According to the court’s order, if Menendez applies for public office or employment or takes any steps to campaign, run for, or be appointed or elected to public office, he will face a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge.

“Critical to preserving the public's faith and trust in government institutions is ensuring that elected officials who commit crimes involving their offices don’t find new opportunities to regain positions of power,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

“Too many people in New Jersey have a cynical viewpoint that corruption is a routine, widespread feature of our politics,” Platkin said. “We hope the court’s decision sends a message that it is not acceptable and it will carry consequences.”

• See Related: Ex- NJ Senator Menendez Sentenced To Prison In Gold Bar Bribery Case
• See Related: 'Trump Was Right,’ Prison-Bound Former NJ Senator Says
• See Related: Gold Bars For Government Documents: Feds Say Menendez Aided Egypt

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