By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Robert Menendez, the disgraced former U.S. senator from New Jersey, ought to spend no less than 15 years in jail following his corruption conviction, after he betrayed voters by placing his workplace “up for sale” in trade for bribes, U.S. prosecutors stated.
The advice was filed on Thursday evening in Manhattan federal court docket, per week after Menendez’s legal professionals pleaded for leniency, citing the 71-year-old’s age, many years of public service, charitable works, devotion to household, and monetary {and professional} destroy.
Probation officers advisable a 12-year jail time period, which Menendez’s legal professionals described as an efficient “death sentence.”
Menendez, a Democrat who spent 18-1/2 years within the Senate and chaired the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, was convicted final July on all 16 counts he confronted, together with performing as an agent of a international authorities.
Prosecutors stated Menendez accepted gold, money, a Mercedes-Benz (OTC:) and different rewards in trade for political favors, together with shepherding of army help to Egypt and offering help to Qatar, as a part of a bribery conspiracy.
In Thursday’s submitting, prosecutors additionally advisable that two New Jersey businessmen convicted with Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, ought to spend no less than 10 years and 9 years in jail, respectively.
Motivated by “naked greed,” the defendants engaged in crimes that had been “an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the legislative branch, to corrupt the nation’s core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement,” prosecutors stated.
The defendants have requested brief jail phrases, none greater than two years, or no time behind bars. They’re scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29 in Manhattan federal court docket.
Menendez’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, is making an attempt to postpone her Feb. 5 trial on associated expenses, citing potential unfavourable publicity from her husband’s sentencing.
SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT
Of their sentencing advice, prosecutors stated Menendez is the primary senator convicted for abusing a Senate committee management place, and the primary particular person convicted of serving as a international agent whereas being a public official.
Menendez was additionally accused of making an attempt to disrupt prison probes in New Jersey on behalf of Daibes and a one-time insurance coverage dealer, Jose Uribe. Uribe testified at trial for the federal government.
Prosecutors stated Menendez dedicated crimes even after a Senate ethics committee admonished him for receiving items from a rich donor, Salomon Melgen, with out required approval and disclosures.
The connection between Menendez and Melgen underlay a 2017 corruption case in opposition to the senator, which resulted in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked.
“Menendez’s willingness to engage in the charged scheme immediately after receiving a formal admonition for such similar conduct speaks volumes about his character,” prosecutors stated.
As well as, prosecutors stated arguments that Menendez has been punished sufficient replicate a “deeply misplaced sense of entitlement.”
Robert Menendez has maintained his innocence and is anticipated to enchantment his conviction.
The enchantment could embody an argument that jurors had been improperly allowed throughout deliberations to evaluate proof that was not offered at trial.
Menendez’s legal professionals requested a jail time period “substantially” beneath the 21 to 27 months they are saying are advisable beneath federal sentencing tips. Probation officers estimated the rules advice at 24-1/2 to 30-1/2 years.
Hana and Daibes have requested sentences of no multiple yr and two years, respectively.
Attorneys for Menendez and Daibes didn’t instantly reply on Friday to requests for remark.
Hana’s lawyer Lawrence Lustberg known as a 10-year sentence for his shopper “inhumane and unjust.” Nadine Menendez’s lawyer Barry Coburn declined to remark.
