In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the federal appeals court denied former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez’s request for bail while he challenges his bribery conviction, just days before he is due to begin his prison sentence.
Menendez, aged 71, was found guilty in July of leveraging his political influence in exchange for bribes. FBI agents discovered $480,000 in cash during a raid on his home three years ago, some of which was concealed in boots and jacket pockets, in addition to gold bars valued at approximately $150,000, and a luxury convertible in his garage.
Prosecutors alleged that Menendez engaged in corrupt activities to benefit certain New Jersey business magnates. He reportedly protected these individuals and their associates from criminal investigations, facilitated business transactions with foreign governments for two of them, and communicated with Egyptian intelligence officials prior to aiding the country in securing $300 million in U.S. military assistance.
Despite the conviction, Menendez, a Democrat, maintains his innocence and is actively working to overturn the verdict. He is expected to turn himself in to federal prison authorities on the coming Tuesday.
The bail request was denied by a panel consisting of three judges from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a succinct order. The court’s decision did not specify the reasons for the denial, although it noted that one judge would have approved the bail request.
Attempts were made to reach out to his legal team for comments on the recent developments.
Menendez, who previously served as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, relinquished his senatorial position a month following his conviction. He had been serving in the Senate since 2006. In the aftermath, two business owners were also convicted along with him last year.
His wife, Nadine Menendez, was found guilty in April of conspiring with her husband to accept bribes from the business owners. Her legal proceedings were postponed due to a breast cancer diagnosis, which necessitated surgery. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11.