The jury deliberated for more than 12 hours over three days before convicting Menendez on all charges.

Menendez, who previously served as the head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces the grim prospect of spending decades in prison. Democratic lawmakers have called on him to step down from Congress following his conviction. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, "Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign."

Maintaining his innocence, Menendez spoke to reporters outside the New York City courthouse, stating that he never violated his public oath and has always been a patriot. His lawyer, Adam Fee, expressed surprise and disappointment with the jury's guilty verdict, promising to appeal aggressively.

Prosecutors described the case as revealing "shocking levels of corruption," emphasizing that it went beyond mere politics and represented politics for profit. They presented expert testimony, emails, and text messages to show that Menendez accepted lavish rewards from foreign governments, including gold bars worth over $100,000. Some of these gold bars were even submitted as evidence during the trial.

In addition, FBI agents discovered more than $480,000 in cash inside Menendez's home, some of it hidden inside envelopes and coats. Menendez's wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, also faces charges in the bribery case but her trial was postponed due to breast cancer treatment.

The trial also involved two businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who allegedly sought Menendez's illegal assistance in securing millions of dollars from a Qatari investment fund and aiding the Egyptian government. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified against Menendez.

Prosecutors argued that in exchange for these bribes, Menendez helped secure millions of dollars in US aid for Egypt, where Hana had connections to government officials. Menendez was also accused of trying to influence criminal investigations involving Daibes and Uribe. Both businessmen were convicted alongside Menendez on the charges they faced.

Menendez, who is currently running as an independent candidate for re-election in November, lost support from many Democrats in his state after the indictment revealed gold bars discovered in his home. Democratic Congressman Andy Kim called the verdict "a sad and somber day" for New Jersey, urging Menendez to resign immediately.

This is not the first time Menendez has faced federal corruption charges. In 2017, he stood trial for allegedly doing political favors for a wealthy Florida eye doctor in exchange for extravagant gifts and luxurious vacations. That case ultimately ended in a mistrial, with Menendez acquitted on some charges and the jurors unable to reach a unanimous verdict.