Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted on several felony charges related to bribery and acting as an agent for a foreign country.  

Mr Menendez, a Democratic senator who served more than 18 years in the U.S. Senate before resigning following his indictment last August, was found guilty by a federal jury on all 16 felony counts in late 2024.  

The 71-year-old was found guilty of bribery and fraud for collecting money, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for favours for Egypt and a New Jersey businessman, as well as serving as an agent for a foreign country.  

It was the first time a U.S. senator had been convicted of acting as an agent for a foreign country.  

Prosecutors accused him of providing military aid and assistance to Egypt and Qatar, as well as attempting to stop local prosecutions of allies in exchange for bribes. They had asked for a 15-year prison term for Mr Menendez.  

“Menendez, who swore an oath to represent the United States and the State of New Jersey, instead put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes,” prosecutors wrote in a Jan. 9 court filing.  

However, during a hearing at a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein sentenced Mr Menendez to 11 years in prison.  

Mr Menendez pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal, with his lawyers arguing that their client should spend no more than eight years behind bars, considering his age, public service, and charitable contributions.