Senator Robert Menendez arrives at the Federal Court in Manhattan on May 13, 2024 in New York City.
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A judge warned lawyers Monday about playing legal games shortly after they opened a federal bribery case against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez.
“There’s so much shenanigans here,” Judge Sidney Stein told prosecutors and defense attorneys before jury selection began in Manhattan federal court.
“Everyone here has to act in good faith,” Stein said, adding, “I’m not sure I’ve seen that.”
Menendez, 70, wearing a dark suit, red-striped tie and a gold senatorial badge on his lapel, listened quietly in the courtroom.
Two of his co-defendants, New Jersey businessmen Will Harner and Fred Debbies, sat behind him. The third businessman charged in the case, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty on March 1 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The judge’s harsh words ended the exchange of some evidence that could be used in the trial of the once-powerful senator, who is accused of accepting large amounts of cash, gold bars and 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 served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but resigned from his post in September 2023 after being indicted.
He has pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including bribery, wire fraud, racketeering, acting as a foreign agent and obstruction of justice.
His wife, Nadine Menendez, was also charged in the corruption case, but her trial was interrupted from that of her husband because of what her lawyer said was a health issue. Her trial was postponed until at least July; she did not appear in court with her husband on Monday morning.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York told Stein they expect to hear the case in four and a half to six and a half weeks.
Stein told dozens of prospective jurors that the trial itself would likely last about six to seven weeks, before giving them a rough overview of the 18-count indictment against Menendez and his co-defendants.
The senator’s federal meeting began just blocks from Manhattan Supreme Court, where former President Donald Trump is on trial on charges of hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Silence.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
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