Senator Robert Menendez arrives at federal court in Manhattan, New York City, May 13, 2024.
Fatih Aktas | Anadolu | beautiful images
A judge on Monday warned lawyers about playing legal games shortly after they convened to begin Sen. John John’s federal bribery trial. Robert MenendezD.N.J.
“There are too many games here,” Judge Sidney Stein told prosecutors and defense attorneys before jury selection began. for the trial in federal court in Manhattan.
“Everybody has to operate in good faith here,” Stein said, adding, “I’m not sure I’ve seen that yet.”
MenendezThe 70-year-old, wearing a dark suit and red striped tie with a gold senatorial badge on his lapel, listened silently in the courtroom.
His two co-defendants, New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, sat behind him. Jose Uribe, the third businessman charged in the case, pleaded guilty March 1 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The judge’s stern words stopped the exchange of some evidence that could be used in the trial of the once powerful senator, who is accused of accepting cash, gold bars and other gifts. other gifts in exchange for official acts.
Prosecutors allege Menendez took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from New Jersey businessmen to benefit them and the countries of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but resigned following the indictment in September 2023.
He has pleaded not guilty to 16 felony charges, including bribery, wire fraud, extortion, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction of justice.
His wife, Nadine Menendez, was also charged in the corruption case, but her trial was cut off from her husband’s due to what her lawyer said were medical issues. Her trial was delayed until at least July; She was not in court with her husband on Monday morning.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York told Stein they expected to resolve his case in 4½ to 6½ weeks.
The trial itself could last about six to seven weeks, Stein told dozens of prospective jurors before giving them a rough outline of the 18-count indictment against Menendez and his co-defendants. he.
The senator’s federal trial began just blocks from Manhattan Supreme Court, where the former President Donald Trump is on trial on charges related to a plot to silence porn star Stormy Daniels with hush money before the 2016 election.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
