 And later in the story, it says prosecutors were able to let reams of text messages, emails and testimony from some of Menendez's closest associates do the talking for the senator. The FBI in 2022 raided Menendez's North Jersey home and they seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and over a dozen gold bars, which prosecutors said they were linked to bribes. Now, his sister did defend him. She testified at the trial and she explained.