Ex-NJ Democrat Sen Menendez to be sentenced Wednesday on federal bribery, corruption convictions

Former New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez will be sentenced Wednesday on federal corruption charges for which he faces as many as 30 years in prison. 

Menendez was convicted on all 16 counts in his federal corruption case last year, including obstruction of justice, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and acting as a foreign agent.

Menendez accepted bribes in exchange for acting to benefit the governments in Egypt and Qatar when he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Sentencing guidelines call for 24 to 30 years in prison, with the U.S. Probation Office recommending 12 years, according to court filings.

Prosecutors have requested Menendez get at least 15 years. 

“Menendez’s conduct may be the most serious for which a U.S. Senator has been convicted in the history of the Republic,” prosecutors wrote, according to CNN.

Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, faces similar charges. Her trial has been delayed while she undergoes treatment for breast cancer but is scheduled to start March 18.