Robert "Bob" Menendez, born on January 1, 1954, in New York City to Cuban immigrant parents Mario and Evangelina Menendez who fled the Castro regime, is an American politician and lawyer. Raised in Union City, New Jersey, in a working-class environment, he began his public service career early, serving as an aide to the mayor of Union City while attending college. He was elected to the Union City Board of Education in 1974 at age 19, becoming its president the following year. Menendez earned a B.A. in political science from Rutgers University in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in 1979, after which he entered private legal practice and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1980. His political ascent continued with election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1985, where he served until 1991, followed by terms as mayor of Union City from 1986 to 1992 and as a state senator from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New Jersey's 13th district, serving until 2006.

Appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2006 following Jon Corzine's resignation to become New Jersey's governor, Menendez won election to a full term later that year and was reelected in 2012 and 2018, serving as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 2006 until 2024. As a prominent Democratic senator, he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2023, focusing on foreign policy, immigration, and Latino issues, and was known for hawkish views including support for interventionism. He positioned himself as a vocal advocate for Cuban-American interests and progressive causes, co-chairing the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus with Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and was a staunch pro-Israel advocate, maintaining a strong pro-Israel record and deep ties to pro-Israel advocacy, though he faced criticism for this stance and occasional alignment with moderate positions. His career was marked by strong ties to influential donors like Haim Saban, who provided significant financial support and lobbied on his behalf.

Menendez's tenure ended abruptly in 2024 amid a high-profile federal corruption trial. Convicted on July 16, 2024, of 16 felony counts including bribery, extortion, acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, and obstruction of justice, he became the first sitting U.S. senator convicted of such charges. The case stemmed from allegations that Menendez and his wife Nadine accepted bribes—gold bars, cash, a luxury car, and other gifts—from New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and Jose Uribe in exchange for political favors, including influencing U.S. policy toward Egypt and interfering in criminal cases, reflecting accusations of Egyptian influence peddling. Nadine Menendez was also convicted on related charges. Menendez resigned from the Senate on August 20, 2024, ahead of sentencing, which resulted in an 11-year prison term. The scandal drew widespread condemnation for undermining public trust in government and highlighted his extensive network of influence involving foreign entities and domestic power brokers. He is the father of an eldest son from his first marriage, who is an attorney and has maintained a low public profile amid his father's scandals.