Hudson County’s Bob Menendez, who once twirled the world on his finger as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, became a foreign agent and betrayed his constituents and his country, according to a jury.

Menendez survived his first corruption trial in 2017 with a hung jury – but today, couldn’t escape the lurid evidence of gold bars accepted for services delivered as he absorbed a damning guilty verdict.

The jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts of corruption.

“I have never violated my oath. I have never been a foreign agent,” the defiant senator told reporters.

Menendez’s lawyer intends to appeal. Sentencing is set for Oct. 29th.

It looked bad, in fact dreadful, from the beginning.

Last year, federal prosecutors in New York alleged the New Jersey Democrat accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, a luxury car, mortgage payments and more in exchange for the senator’s political clout. From ABC News: “Three New Jersey businessmen who were also charged, along with the governments of Egypt and Qatar, were the alleged recipients.”

Menendez pleaded not guilty to 16 federal charges including bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction.

But after deliberating for 14 hours, the jury rejected his defense, finding the senior U.S. Senator guilty,

not only of enriching himself but of acting as a foreign agent, a stunning plummet from grace going back to when then-Governor Jon Corzine tapped him to replace him in the U.S. Senate, to the disgrace of Menendez’s first indictment, to the semi-redemption of a hung jury, to full-bore disgrace and the strong possibility now of hard time.

“This was politics for profit,” said Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York outside the courthouse. “[Menendez’s] years of selling his office to the highest bidder have come to an end.”

Following the verdict, Menendez’s friend and colleague, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, called on the guilt-riddled New Jersey lawmaker to resign.

Democratic State Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones issued a statement in the aftermath of the verdict.

“This is a sad day for New Jersey and our country,” said Jones. “While we understand the judicial process continues, the verdicts in the case against Senator Bob Menendez are incredibly sobering. We again call on the Senator to resign his Senate seat and allow us all to move forward.”

Democratic candidate for Governor Steven Fulop released the following statement on the guilty

verdict reached today in the corruption trial of Menendez:

“While our judicial system has made it more and more difficult to hold corrupt politicians accountable in recent years, today’s guilty verdict is a strong statement that reaffirms trust and the credit goes to the Southern District for being undaunted in their prosecution. As we turn the page now, Bob Menendez‘s legacy is cemented as a permanent embarrassment to New Jersey as one of the most corrupt elected officials to ever serve in a state that has unfortunately had its share of bad actors. Menendez should resign today and allow us all to move forward.”

End Citizens United (ECU) President Tiffany Muller issued the following statement:

“Today’s guilty verdicts against Senator Menendez is a major triumph for justice and the rule of law.

Senator Menendez exploited public office, shamelessly selling out his constituents for his own financial enrichment. This verdict delivers a powerful message that corruption and abuse of power will not be tolerated in government. It’s clear Senator Menendez can no longer hold public office. He should resign immediately—and if he refuses, the Senate must act to expel him.

“With this dark chapter in New Jersey politics behind them, voters have an opportunity to restore dignity to the office by electing Congressman Andy Kim, who embodies honesty, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Congressman Kim will be a voice for all New Jersey families and a fantastic U.S. Senator.”

ECU was the first national group to endorse Congressman Kim’s campaign for the U.S. Senate, following the shocking indictment detailing Senator Bob Menendez’s corruption.

Governor Phil Murphy’s full statement:

Gubernatorial candidate Jon Bramnick released the following statement: “A jury has convicted Senator Bob Menendez on 16 counts of bribery and corruption. Given the verdict, the Senator should resign immediately or be expelled from the United States Senate. Corruption has no place in New Jersey and the actions of Senator Menendez have brought shame on our great state. This November New Jersey voters have an opportunity to elect a Senator that will restore honor to the seat and represent our state with dignity and vigor to restore law and order, fight inflation and unshackle our small business from over regulation. On November 5th I urge voters to end five-decade-long Democrat monopoly on New Jersey’s Senate representation and vote for Curtis Bashaw.”