TRENTON, N.J. — Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez has been permanently barred from pursuing or holding any public office in New Jersey, following a court ruling that came after his federal corruption convictions, as announced by state officials on Thursday.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), stated that the order, which was signed by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy, prohibits Menendez from occupying “any position of honor, trust, or profit” within state or local government. Judge Lougy serves as the assignment judge for Mercer County.
According to the ruling, any effort by Menendez to run for, seek, or accept a public office or government role could lead to a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge.
Menendez, who was once a significant Democratic figure in Washington and the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was convicted in July 2024 in federal court in Manhattan. A jury found him guilty of conspiracy charges linked to bribery, extortion under color of official right, and obstruction of justice. He received an 11-year sentence in federal prison in January 2025.
“Critical to preserving the public’s faith and trust in government institutions is ensuring that elected officials who commit crimes involving their offices don’t find new opportunities to regain positions of power,” Platkin said in a statement. “Too many people in New Jersey have a cynical viewpoint that corruption is a routine, widespread feature of our politics. We hope the court’s decision sends a message that it is not acceptable and it will carry consequences.”
Federal prosecutors claimed that Menendez and his spouse, Nadine Menendez, received bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from 2018 to 2022. These bribes consisted of cash, gold bars, home decor, and a luxury convertible. In return, investigators stated, Menendez used his Senate power to assist the bribe givers and to perform official actions that were beneficial to foreign nations, including Egypt.
The disqualification order was obtained by Deputy Attorney General Adam Klein, a special assistant to the OPIA executive director, under the oversight of Corruption Bureau Director Jeffrey J. Manis and OPIA Executive Director Eric L. Gibson.
