Bob Menendez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Menendez
Official portrait, 2022
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office January 17, 2006 – August 20, 2024
Preceded by	Jon Corzine
Succeeded by	George Helmy
Committee positions 2009–⁠2023 Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office February 3, 2021 – September 22, 2023 Preceded by Jim Risch Succeeded by Ben Cardin In office February 1, 2013 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by John Kerry Succeeded by Bob Corker Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office February 6, 2018 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Ben Cardin Succeeded by Jim Risch In office January 3, 2015 – April 2, 2015 Preceded by Bob Corker Succeeded by Ben Cardin Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 Leader Harry Reid Preceded by Chuck Schumer Succeeded by Patty Murray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 13th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 16, 2006
Preceded by	Frank Joseph Guarini
Succeeded by	Albio Sires
House positions 1999–⁠2006 Chair of the House Democratic Caucus In office January 3, 2003 – January 16, 2006 Leader Nancy Pelosi Preceded by Martin Frost Succeeded by Jim Clyburn Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 Leader Nancy Pelosi Preceded by Barbara B. Kennelly Succeeded by Jim Clyburn
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 33rd district
In office March 4, 1991 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Christopher Jackman
Succeeded by	Bernard Kenny
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 33rd district
In office January 12, 1988 – March 4, 1991
Preceded by	Jose Arango Ronald Dario
Succeeded by	Louis Romano
Mayor of Union City
In office May 20, 1986 – November 15, 1992
Preceded by	Arthur Wichert
Succeeded by	Bruce Walter
Personal details
Born	Robert Menendez (1954-01-01) January 1, 1954 (age 71) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Jane Jacobsen ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 2005)​ Nadine Arslanian ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	Alicia Rob
Education	Saint Peter's University (BA) Rutgers Law School (JD)
Signature
Criminal information
Status	Incarcerated at FCI Allenwood Low
Conviction(s)	Bribery (2 counts) Wire fraud (3 counts) Extortion (3 counts) Obstruction of justice Being a public official acting as a foreign agent Conspiracy (7 counts)
Criminal penalty	11 years in prison
Date apprehended	September 22, 2023

Robert "Bob" Menendez (born January 1, 1954) is a former American lawyer and politician. He represented the state of New Jersey in the United States Senate from 2006 to 2024. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was a powerful voice in American politics for many years.

Before becoming a senator, Menendez served in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2006. His long political career began in his hometown of Union City. He was the mayor there from 1986 to 1992.

Menendez was a very important senator. He was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This committee helps shape how the United States works with other countries.

In 2024, his career ended after he was found guilty in a major legal case. He was the first sitting U.S. senator to be convicted of acting as an agent for a foreign country. He resigned from the Senate in August 2024.

Early life and education

Robert Menendez was born in New York City on January 1, 1954. His parents were immigrants from Cuba who had left their home country a year earlier. His father, Mario, was a carpenter, and his mother, Evangelina, was a seamstress.

The family moved to Union City, New Jersey, where he grew up. He went to Union Hill High School and became the student body president. A teacher helped him become a good public speaker. He said his mother and his teacher taught him about the "power of education."

Menendez was the first person in his family to go to college. He studied political science at Saint Peter's University. After college, he went to Rutgers Law School and earned a law degree in 1979.

Beginning of his political career

Menendez's career in politics started early. When he was only 20 years old, he was elected to the Union City Board of Education in 1974. He was the youngest person ever elected to the board.

In 1986, he was elected mayor of Union City. While he was still mayor, he was also elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987. Later, in 1991, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate. He served in local and state government before moving to national politics.

U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2006)

In 1992, Menendez was elected to the United States House of Representatives. This is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress. He represented a district in New Jersey that had a large Latino population. He won his elections easily every two years.

As a representative, Menendez worked on many issues. He was interested in foreign policy, which is about how the U.S. interacts with other nations. He supported military action in the Kosovo War and in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. However, he voted against the 2002 invasion of Iraq.

He also worked on laws related to banking and business. He voted for the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, a law created to protect investors from bad business practices.

U.S. Senate (2006–2024)

In January 2006, New Jersey's governor, Jon Corzine, appointed Menendez to the United States Senate. This happened because Corzine had been a senator but was just elected governor, leaving his Senate seat open. Menendez was the sixth Latino person to ever serve in the U.S. Senate.

Later that year, he won a full six-year term in the Senate. He was reelected in 2012 and 2018, showing that voters in New Jersey continued to support him for many years.

What did Senator Menendez do?

As a senator, Menendez was involved in many important national issues. He served on powerful committees, including the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Immigration

Menendez (second from right) marching in the 2010 North Hudson Cuban Day Parade with Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack (second from left)

Menendez was a strong supporter of immigration reform. He believed the country's immigration system was broken and needed to be fixed. He introduced bills to help immigrants, especially children who grew up in the U.S.

He supported the DREAM Act, a bill to help young undocumented immigrants go to college or serve in the military. He said, "Children should not be punished for the actions of their parents."

Foreign policy

Menendez with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, in September 2014.

Menendez was a leader on foreign policy. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, he had a big influence on U.S. relationships with other countries. He believed in standing up for democracy and human rights around the world.

He was concerned about Iran's nuclear program and supported strong actions against the country. He also supported Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He helped write laws to provide aid to Ukraine and to put pressure on Russia.

He often spoke out against human rights abuses in countries like China, Myanmar, and Cuba.

Other issues

• Disaster Relief: After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Menendez pushed the government to provide more housing assistance for people who had to leave the island.
• Environment: He supported laws to fight climate change and protect the environment. He wanted the U.S. to stay in the Paris Agreement, an international agreement to reduce pollution.
• Gun Policy: Menendez supported stricter gun laws. He wanted universal background checks for anyone buying a gun and a ban on certain types of weapons.
• Health Care: He worked to protect the Affordable Care Act, a law that helps more Americans get health insurance.

Legal troubles and resignation

Throughout his career, Menendez faced questions about his actions as a politician. In 2015, he was charged with breaking the law, but the trial ended without a decision. The Senate Ethics Committee later warned him for accepting gifts and using his position to help a friend.

In 2023, Menendez faced new and very serious charges. Prosecutors said he had used his powerful position to secretly help the governments of Egypt and Qatar in exchange for gifts.

His trial took place in 2024. A jury found him guilty of all charges, including acting as a foreign agent. This was a historic case, as no sitting senator had ever been convicted of such a crime.

After the conviction, many politicians from his own party called for him to resign. In August 2024, Menendez officially resigned from the U.S. Senate, ending his long political career. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January 2025.

Personal life

Menendez married Jane Jacobsen in 1976. They had two children, Alicia and Rob. Alicia Menendez is a television host, and Rob Menendez was elected to Congress in 2022. Menendez and Jacobsen divorced in 2005.

In 2020, he married Nadine Arslanian. She was also charged in the 2023 legal case alongside her husband.

Images for kids

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  Representative Bob Menendez during the 109th Congress.

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  Official portrait, 2013.

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  Official portrait, 2015.

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  Menendez marching in the 2010 Cuban Day Parade in New Jersey.

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  Menendez with activists from Hong Kong.

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  Menendez was photographed by FBI agents at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. in May 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Robert Menendez para niños

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress