According to CoinDesk, Bob Menendez, a Democratic senator from New Jersey who has previously criticized cryptocurrencies, was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday of accepting bribes including gold bars and luxury cars in exchange for using his political influence.
Bob Menendez, who has been a vocal critic of cryptocurrencies, once referred to bitcoin as the “ideal choice for criminals.” However, he himself has now been convicted as a criminal, leading to widespread discussions within the cryptocurrency community about this ironic situation.
In the past, Bob Menendez also co-sponsored a bill called the “Accountability for Cryptocurrencies in El Salvador (ACES) Act,” which called for a report from the US State Department on the potential risks to the US financial system of El Salvador adopting bitcoin as legal tender. Stacy Herbert, a member of El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) under President Bukele, posted on X platform stating that the real criminal is Bob Menendez, and that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Bob Menendez, should apologize to President Bukele and El Salvador.
After the verdict, Menendez defended his innocence outside the courthouse, claiming to be a patriotic servant of the country and denying any role as a foreign agent. However, prosecutors argued that Menendez’s actions went beyond normal political behavior and were driven by personal interests. The prosecutors stated that with Menendez’s conviction, his years of selling public office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.
Bob Menendez has been a member of the US Congress since 1993 and has served as a senator since 2006. Despite calls for resignation from party leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, he has not yet stepped down. Menendez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29th and could face several decades in prison.