By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey has officially shut the door on any future political comeback for Robert Menendez. A Superior Court judge has ruled that the former U.S. senator is permanently prohibited from holding public office or any position of trust in the state, a consequence of his recent federal convictions.
The order specifies that Menendez is forever disqualified from serving in state or local government. It also warns that if he attempts to run for office, seek appointment, or apply for public employment, he could face a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge.
The ruling follows Menendez’s July 2024 conviction in federal court, where a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery, extortion under color of official right, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said the decision reinforces the expectation that elected officials who abuse their positions should not be allowed to return to power. He noted that many residents have grown frustrated with corruption being treated as a normal part of politics.
Investigators revealed that Menendez and his wife, Nadine, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes between 2018 and 2022. The bribes included cash, gold bars, furniture, and a luxury convertible. In return, Menendez used his influence to protect the interests of those paying him and to advance the agendas of foreign governments, including Egypt.
With the court’s order now in place, Menendez is barred for life from any role in New Jersey government.