Former US senator Bob Menendez has been permanently banned from seeking or holding public office in New Jersey after being convicted of federal corruption charges, officials said.
A New Jersey superior court order on Friday, issued by Judge Robert Lougy, prohibits Menendez from holding “any position of honor, trust, or profit in state or local government.” State Attorney General Matt Platkin said Menendez would face a fourth-degree contempt charge if he attempts to run for or accept public office in violation of the ruling.
“Critical to preserving the public’s faith and trust in government institutions is ensuring that elected officials who commit crimes involving their offices don’t find new opportunities to regain positions of power,” Platkin said. He added that the court’s decision should send a message that corruption will carry consequences in New Jersey.
Menendez began serving an 11-year federal prison sentence in June after being convicted of accepting bribes in the form of gold and cash while acting as an agent of Egypt. His conviction earned him the nickname “Gold Bar Bob,” which his attorney acknowledged.
He resigned from the Senate in August 2024, about a month after his jury conviction, which found he had sold his political influence for personal gain. Prosecutors said Menendez protected New Jersey business owners who bribed him from criminal investigations and helped them secure foreign business deals. He also met with Egyptian intelligence officials before assisting Egypt in obtaining $300 million in US military aid.
During the investigation, FBI agents reported finding $480,000 in cash in Menendez’s home, including money hidden in boots and jacket pockets. Authorities also discovered $150,000 in gold bars and a luxury convertible in his garage.
Menendez’s wife, Nadine, was convicted separately for selling her husband’s influence in exchange for cash, gold bars, and a luxury car. She was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in September.
Despite the convictions, Menendez maintains his innocence. The 71-year-old reported to prison after a federal appeals court rejected his request to remain free on bail while he pursued an appeal to overturn his conviction. He has also expressed hope for a pardon from former President Donald Trump, echoing Trump’s criticisms of the US court system.
“This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core,” Menendez said in January after learning the length of his prison sentence. “I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores … integrity to the system.”
Menendez had a long political career in New Jersey. He began on the Union City Board of Education in 1974, later serving as the city’s mayor. He also represented New Jersey in the state assembly, the US House of Representatives, and the US Senate, where he eventually became chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Born to Cuban immigrants, Menendez’s rise in politics was marked by decades of public service, culminating in his influential role in shaping US foreign policy. However, his career ended amid serious legal and ethical violations, highlighting the consequences of corruption for elected officials.
The court’s ban ensures Menendez cannot return to public office in New Jersey. Legal experts and state officials say the decision is a strong step toward restoring trust in government institutions and discouraging elected officials from exploiting their positions for personal benefit.
