Former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, one of the most prominent Latino politicians in the United States, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for corruption. The sentence was announced by a federal judge in New York, Sidney Stein.
Menendez, 71, was found guilty of accepting bribes in the form of gold bars, a luxury car, and suitcases filled with cash while he chaired the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During his time on that committee, Menendez accumulated immense power and became an almost necessary channel for Latin American politics.
In the words of Judge Stein: 'Corruption in the Senate is a stain on the reputation of our country, and we must ensure that those who engage in such acts are held accountable.'
This conviction marks a turning point in Menendez's political career and in the perception of corruption in government in the United States.
