Sen. Gold Bar Bob Menendez gets support from convicted drug dealer, indicted politician ahead of sentencing

Disgraced former senator Robert Menendez has letters of support from a convicted drug dealer, a US diplomat Cuba allegedly once tried to recruit as a spy and a former New Jersey mayor indicted on corruption charges, ahead of his sentencing later this month.Last week, lawyers for Menendez, 71, filed a nearly 400-page legal document, which included more than 120 letters from Menendez’s family, friends and former associates vouching for his good character and lifetime of public service.The three-term Democrat was convicted on 16 bribery and corruption charges in July after a jury found him guilty of accepting gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars from three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian and Qatari governments.He will be sentenced in Manhattan federal court on January 29.Two of the businessmen — Wael Hana and Fred Daibes — were convicted alongside the senator.

His wife, Nadine Arslanian, has also been charged with corruption.She has pleaded not guilty.

Menendez has maintained his innocence, and says he plans to appeal.“I respectfully ask that you temper justice with compassion and give Senator Menendez a second chance,” writes Manuel Diaz in a Sept.6 letter to Judge Sidney Stein.Diaz, who went to high school and law school with Menendez, was convicted of trafficking cocaine for Colombian drug lords in 1997.

He served two years in federal prison, and said that when he was released Menendez helped him get back on his feet.Diaz was also a donor to Menendez’s political campaigns, public records show.“Bob helped me find employment and gave me a second chance,” writes Diaz, who was also the former senator’s first law partner.“He not only gave me a chance at rebuilding my life, he helped me in my journey making amends to society for my transgressions.

For 15 years, I worked helping the poorest of the poor members of our society through the homeless assistance programs in a local NGO.”Diaz worked at the North Hudson Community Action ...