Robert "Bob" Menendez (1 January 1954-) was a member of the US Senate (D) from New Jersey from 17 January 2006 to 20 August 2024, succeeding Jon Corzine and preceding George Helmy.
Biography[]
Robert Menendez was born in New York City, New York in 1954 to a family of Cuban immigrants. He grew up in a Union City, New Jersey apartment, and he was the first member of his family to go to college; he earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Peter's College in Jersey City before attending Rutgers University in Newark. He was admitted to the bar in 1980 and entered private practice, and he served as Mayor of Union City from 1986 to 1992, as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 33rd district from 1988 to 1991, a member of the New Jersey State Senate from the 33rd district from 1991 to 1993, and as a member of the US House of Representatives (D-NJ 13) from 3 January 1993 to 16 January 2006 (succeeding Jim Saxton and preceding Albio Sires). From 2003 to 2006, he served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and this ended when he was elected to the US Senate to replace Jon Corzine in 2005. Menendez was involved with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but the Republican Party briefly attempted in tarnishing his reputation by paying three Dominican women, posing as child prostitutes, to claim that Menendez had sexual contact with them. It was later revealed that they were paid up to $425 to lie. However, Menendez's reputation was filthied by corruption allegations in 2015, as he had provided favors to a Florida ophthalmologist by providing visas for his girlfriends and for accepting a range of perks from him. On 31 January 2018, after Menendez's trial had ended in mistrial (on 16 November 2017), the Justice Department dropped all charges against Menendez. On 22 September 2023, he and his wife were charged with accepting bribes including gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen. In July 2024, he was found guilty of all charges in his federal corruption trial and was convicted of conspiracy by a public official to act as a foreign agent. He resigned from the Senate in August 2024.