Disgraced Ex-Sen. Menendez Banned From Holding Any Public Office in NJ
Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has been permanently barred from holding public office in New Jersey following his conviction on federal corruption charges, the state attorney general announced.
Menendez, sentenced in January to 11 years in prison, is also prohibited from serving in any position of public trust by a ruling from New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy, per Fox News.
A jury found Menendez guilty in July 2024 on 16 counts, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. He became the first U.S. senator in history to be convicted of acting as a foreign agent, and his 11-year sentence is the longest ever imposed on a member of the Senate.
“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,” New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement, per Fox.“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,” the statement continued.
Menendez, the former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will face a fourth-degree contempt-of-court charge if he attempts to seek public office or public employment in New Jersey, officials said.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepted bribes between 2018 and 2022. According to the state attorney general’s office, the payments included gold bars, cash, a luxury convertible, home furnishings and other items of value.
Recommended for youProsecutors also accused Nadine Menendez of receiving paychecks for a job that did not actually exist.
Prosecutors say Menendez used his position in the Senate to advance the interests of those who provided the bribes, including by taking official actions that benefited foreign governments such as Egypt.
The indictment followed a plea agreement by co-defendant Jose Uribe, who allegedly provided Nadine Menendez with a Mercedes convertible. Uribe agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of his deal.
Menendez had pleaded his innocence and claimed the process was political and “corrupted to the core.”
“I hope President [Donald] Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system,” Menendez told reporters at his sentencing, per Fox.
Menendez relinquished his role as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2024 after being charged but has rebuffed demands for his resignation. There is speculation that he would consider an independent reelection candidacy to raise funds, potentially to mitigate his increasing legal expenses.
Menendez’s legal expenses were escalating at the time, and sources pointed out that he could only raise funds if he ran for office. Using campaign funds to cover legal fees is not uncommon; NBC News previously reported that affiliated committees of then-former President Trump spent nearly $50 million from fundraising revenue on legal expenses in 2023 alone as Democratic prosecutors and the Biden administration pursued criminal cases against him.
Recommended for you“A cornerstone of the foundation of American democracy and our justice system is the principle that all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The court of public opinion is no substitute for our revered justice system,” the Democrat senator said after he was charged.
“We cannot set aside the resumption of innocence for political expediency when the harm is irrevocable… Instead of waiting for all the facts to be presented, others have rushed to judgment because they see a political opportunity for themselves or those around them,” Menendez added at the time
Menendez also made it clear he did not intend to resign from the Senate: “Not only will I be exonerated, I will also still be NJ’s senior senator.”
BREAKING: Bret Baier cuts into live broadcast with urgent update on Trump
Fox News’ Bret Baier Caught on Video Getting Ticketed in D.C. amid Trump’s Police Takeover
"I didn't know there was paparazzi," Baier said after footage of him getting pulled over was shared to X
Fox News anchor Bret Baier was ticketed in Washington, D.C., amid President Donald Trump's overhaul of the city's police.
One week after the president seized control of the Metropolitan Police Department — a move he claimed would help to fight crime and target the city's homeless population — Baier, 55, was seen getting a ticket for distracted driving by an MPD officer.
Fox News' Bret Baier gets a ticket in Washington, D.C.
Roy Rochlin/Getty; Mollaan Babbington Group of COMPASS via Storyful
The Special Report host explained in a post on X that he picked up his phone as he drove past an officer in Georgetown, resulting in the ticket. As in much of the rest of the United States, it is illegal to use a cellphone while simultaneously driving in Washington, unless hands-free technology is being used.
"I didn't know there was paparazzi," Baier added at the end of his message.Members of the National Guard patrol at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2025.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
After the president announced his administration's takeover of Washington, D.C., law enforcement on Aug. 11, the Metropolitan Police Department fell under federal control. Attorney General Pam Bondi was put in charge of the D.C. police, and Trump warned he was ready to deploy other military forces "if needed."
The capital takeover prompted widespread protests, confrontations at ICE checkpoints and further curfews. Although the citizen response is largely negative, the Trump administration has expressed satisfaction with how the takeover is unfolding.Trump claimed the move was in response to a "public safety emergency," despite local crime data showing otherwise. The president has accused city officials of falsifying data.
The Washington, D.C., takeover was initially planned to be 30 days long, though Trump has expressed desire to extend the period — and apply the same methods in other U.S. cities.
"Our whole country is going to be so different and so great," Trump said on Aug. 13. "It's going to be clean and safe and beautiful, and people are going to love our flag more than they've ever loved it. And we're going to do a great job."
President Trump has to stop live speech as he rushed from podium after ‘medical emergency’
BREAKING: Trump Abruptly Halts Speech After Sudden Medical Emergency Inside White House
Washington, D.C. — What began as a routine national security briefing quickly turned into a moment of confusion and concern that left both the press and the public searching for answers.
President Donald Trump was in the middle of delivering remarks on rising global tensions, including warnings about Iran and nuclear threats, when the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Witnesses describe a sudden break in focus—an interruption that escalated within seconds into what appeared to be a medical emergency.
Before most viewers at home could fully grasp what was happening, the live broadcast abruptly cut to black.
A Sudden Turn Behind Closed Doors
According to individuals present in the room, confusion spread rapidly. A child reportedly collapsed, triggering immediate alarm among those nearby. Among the first to react was Mehmet Oz, who moved swiftly toward the scene.
Observers noted that his response was immediate and instinctive—less that of a public figure, and more that of a concerned parent and trained physician. His wife, visibly shaken, added to the intensity of the moment unfolding just feet away from the podium.
At nearly the same time, Karoline Leavitt issued a firm directive to clear the room. Reporters were quickly ushered out, cutting off any chance for immediate clarification.
Silence Replaces Answers
Within moments, the press conference was officially terminated. No explanation was offered. No follow-up briefing was announced.
The abrupt end left a void—both in the room and across the nation. Viewers were left staring at blank screens, while journalists scrambled for details that, as of now, remain unconfirmed.
A Human Moment in a High-Stakes Setting
What makes the incident particularly striking is where it occurred: inside one of the most secure and controlled environments in the world. The Oval Office is typically a place of calculated messaging and strict protocol. Yet in this instance, those layers of control appeared to dissolve in an instant.The contrast was stark. Just seconds earlier, the focus had been on geopolitical threats and national defense. Suddenly, the narrative shifted to something far more immediate and personal—a family crisis unfolding in real time.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the White House has not released an official statement clarifying the nature of the emergency or the condition of those involved.
Until more information emerges, the public is left piecing together fragments:
A speech interrupted mid-sentence
A rushed response from a doctor and parent
A distressed family at the center of attention
And a room cleared with urgency and silence
In Washington, where every moment is usually scripted and controlled, this unexpected incident serves as a stark reminder: even at the highest levels of power, unpredictability can take over without warning.
