2nd Circuit Judges Question Menendez Conviction’s Legal Basis
A panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit appeared skeptical of former Senator Bob Menendez’s criminal convictions during oral arguments on September 24, 2026. Menendez’s attorney, former Solicitor General Noel Francisco, argued that Menendez’s actions regarding a U.S. attorney appointment were protected legislative activity under the Constitution’s speech or debate clause. The court questioned the government’s reliance on historical precedents and challenged the definition of 'official acts' under Supreme Court standards. Menendez is currently serving an 11-year sentence for bribery and other charges.













