The American top democrat and senator Robert Menendez has been convicted of 18 counts of bribery in court in New York on Tuesday.
The 70-year-old senator from New Jersey and his wife Nadine Menendez were accused of the crimes in September last year. This after the police found gold bars and cash worth more than 6.1 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 65 million kronor, during a house search. Additionally, a luxury car of the Mercedes-Benz brand was found.
The bribes, according to the prosecutor, among other things, came from businessmen in New Jersey who in exchange benefited from Menendez's business with the regime in Egypt.
Menendez and his wife have denied the crimes. The trial against Nadine Menendez will be held at a later time since she is undergoing breast cancer treatment.
The Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has, after the verdict was announced, demanded Menendez's resignation as senator.
The sentence that Menendez will be convicted of will be announced later.
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