USA US senator convicted of corruption

US Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty of corruption. Twelve jurors in New York convicted the Democratic representative from New Jersey on all 16 charges - including bribery and fraud, as US media unanimously reported from the courtroom.

The sentence is to be announced on October 29. Menendez is facing a long prison sentence. After the verdict was announced, he announced his intention to appeal. "I have never broken my public oath. I have never been anything other than a patriot of my country and for my country," he said.

According to the New York Times, the 70-year-old is only the seventh sitting senator in US history to be convicted of a criminal offense. The Democratic majority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, called on him to resign.

The jury found it proven that Menendez used his political influence to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar and accepted bribes and luxury items in return. Investigators found around 500,000 US dollars (around 459,000 euros) in cash in his possession - hidden in envelopes and in his jackets, according to the public prosecutor's office. There was also talk of gold bars and a "luxury car".

"Loans" and "gifts"

Menendez had pleaded not guilty. The trial of his wife, who is also on trial, has been delayed due to cancer treatment she is undergoing.

Menendez, a Democrat, has been a member of the Senate for the state of New Jersey on the US East Coast since 2006. He has already been investigated in the past, at that time the focus was on questionable business dealings and luxury trips. However, he was never convicted.

Two businessmen who had bribed Menendez were convicted along with the politician. They did not deny the benefits, but claimed that they were either gifts without consideration or loans.

SDA