The wife of former US Senator Robert Menendez has been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for aiding her husband in an elaborate bribery scheme involving stacks of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz.
Nadine Menendez, 58, was convicted in April of 15 counts, including bribery, after jurors found she acted as a conduit for her husband and Egyptian officials, relaying messages and arranging meetings.
Her husband was convicted last year and sentenced to 11 years for the scheme that also led to his political downfall.
During the trial prosecutors described her as indispensable to the plot, saying she accepted lavish gifts on her husband's behalf. They had sought a sentence of at least seven years.
During her sentencing hearing on Thursday morning, Menendez appeared to distance herself from her husband saying she should have "asked more questions".
