Anti-Crypto Senator Bob Menendez Convicted of Accepting Bribes
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (Dem), known for his vocal criticism of crypto, has been found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for leveraging his political influence.
On Tuesday, a jury convicted Menendez of all charges including 16 counts tied to a scheme where he accepted bribes, including gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for helping foreign governments.
Menendez, formerly the head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, now faces the prospect of decades in prison.
Following the conviction, crypto veterans took to X to mention the irony, highlighting the contrast between Menendez’s stance on crypto and his own criminal activities.
The case drew attention due to the Senator’s previous statements labeling Bitcoin as an “ideal choice for criminals.”
Senator Menendez said Bitcoin is ideal for criminals.
He was just convicted for taking bribes in gold and cash.
Can anyone spell 'irony'?
— Coach K Crypto (@Coachkcrypto) July 17, 2024
Menendez also co-sponsored a bill called the “Accountability for Cryptocurrency in El Salvador (ACES) Act,” which aimed to require the State Department to report on potential risks to the U.S. financial system stemming from El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender.
The conviction of the Senator has brought attention to the contrasting actions of Menendez and President Nayib Bukele’s administration in El Salvador.
“While Senator Bob Menendez was hiding bars of ill-gotten gold he had received as bribes, President Bukele was establishing the most transparent government in the world by posting El Salvador’s public bitcoin address for all the world to audit,” Stacy Herbert, a member of The National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) of El Salvador, said.
Following the verdict, Menendez
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