BOB MENENDEZ’ WIFE ASKS FOR LIGHT SENTENCE

Attorneys for Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, are asking a federal judge for leniency, describing her as a “deeply traumatized woman” who endured years of abuse in relationships prior to her marriage.

The defense claims, supported by psychological evaluations filed earlier this month, argue that Nadine Menendez’s experiences mirror those of other women who have suffered long-term abuse, including victims who testified in recent high-profile cases. The filings make no allegation that she was abused by her husband.

Nadine Menendez was convicted in April on 15 counts of bribery and corruption. Her husband, Bob Menendez, is serving an 11-year sentence for his role in a corruption scheme that involved cash, gold bars, and a luxury car provided by New Jersey businessmen and linked to favors benefiting Egypt and Qatar.

In a letter dated August 14, her attorneys urged Judge Sidney Stein to impose a sentence of one year and one day, arguing that her history of trauma left her dependent on others and shaped her decisions. They cited testimony from Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist who has studied the long-term effects of abusive relationships.

Prosecutors have argued that Nadine Menendez played an active role, helping arrange contacts with businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. They pointed to a 2018 incident in which, after a car accident, she sought assistance that ultimately included receiving a Mercedes convertible. At one point, she allegedly asked an Egyptian official seeking assistance from her husband, “What can the love of my life do for you?”

Defense filings describe a different history, noting her family’s displacement during Lebanon’s civil war and recounting abusive relationships in her youth, including an incident recalled by a former classmate in which Nadine required stitches after being assaulted by a boyfriend.

Bob Menendez, writing from federal prison on August 4, said he regretted aspects of his trial strategy, specifically comments made by his attorney about his wife’s role.

Her legal team concluded: “Nadine is not her husband, nor her co-defendants. She is a woman whose life has been shaped by trauma, and those experiences should be considered in determining a just sentence.”