Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was found guilty on all counts of corruption by a jury on Tuesday, following a high-profile trial that exposed a web of bribery and misconduct. The verdict carries significant legal and political ramifications for the 70-year-old Democrat.

The jury convicted Menendez on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from allegations that Menendez accepted bribes from businessmen with connections to Egypt and Qatar, using his influence to benefit their interests.

According to prosecutors, FBI agents uncovered nearly $500,000 in cash, gold bars worth approximately $150,000, and a luxury Mercedes-Benz convertible hidden at Menendez's home during a raid. 

Menendez is scheduled for sentencing on October 29, 2024. The charges against him carry a maximum potential prison term of 222 years, though the actual sentence will be determined by the judge. 

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Menendez's resignation in light of the guilty verdict. Schumer stated, "In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign."

Menendez, who had announced his intention to run as an independent in the upcoming November election, has been a significant figure in US politics, previously serving as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Menendez was convicted alongside two co-defendants, Egyptian-American businessman Wael Hana and real estate developer Fred Daibes. Hana and Daibes face up to 85 and 100 years in prison, respectively. A third businessman, insurance broker Jose Uribe, had pleaded guilty to bribery charges earlier and cooperated with the investigation.

The prosecution presented evidence that Menendez used his position to obstruct a New Jersey prosecutor's nomination to protect his co-conspirators and facilitate their business dealings, including helping Hana maintain a monopoly on US halal food exports to Egypt.

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Robert Menendez has been a prominent figure in US politics, serving as a US Senator from New Jersey since 2006. Throughout his career, he was known for his influential role in foreign policy as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His political career has now been marred by these serious legal convictions.

In response to the verdict, Menendez shook his head from side to side as the verdict was read. His wife, Nadine Menendez, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, is also facing charges but will be tried separately.