On May 14, 2024, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) arrived in federal court in New York City to face a bribery trial related to alleged corrupt relationships with three New Jersey businessmen.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Prosecutors and defense attorneys on Wednesday selected a full jury in the federal bribery trial of New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez.
A jury of 18 jurors and six alternates was selected behind closed doors on the third day of the Democratic congressman’s trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Federal prosecutors will deliver opening statements first, before Menendez’s attorneys and two New Jersey businessmen are also charged in the wide-ranging corruption case.
Two dull days passed in court, with not a single juror present.
Menendez, 70, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are accused in the case of accepting bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including bags of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible car in exchange for official acts by the Senator.
Menendez, who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee until his indictment, and his wife are accused of using his political power to try to enrich three businessmen and benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Due to Nadine Menendez’s recent health problems, she will later be tried separately from her husband and the other two defendants in the trial, Val Hanna and Fred Debis.
A third New Jersey businessman charged in the case, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty in March and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors.
Nadine Menendez has yet to appear in court with her husband. Two days before jury selection, he sat alone for a long time, silent, while his lawyers met with prospective jurors in a side room.
Nadine Menendez, wife of Senator Bob Menendez, leaves federal court in Manhattan on October 2, 2023 in New York City.
David Dee Delgado | David Dee Delgado Getty Images
Court documents suggest Menendez’s lawyers may try to convince the 12-member jury that he is innocent Argues that his wife is to blame Because she withheld information and led senators to believe their actions were legal.
The first two days of the trial were dominated by the lengthy process of individual questioning of those who said they could not serve on the jury.
Dozens of people in the courtroom raised jury cards, potentially disqualifying themselves from the trial, which could last seven weeks or longer.
By Tuesday night, Stein had reduced the number of potential jurors in half to 75.
Judge Sidney Stein then began questioning individual jurors in open court about their careers, families, living situations, media habits, hobbies and interests.
Fred Daibes arrives at federal court for his bribery trial against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on May 14, 2024, in New York City.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Prospective jurors identify themselves only by their assigned numbers but occasionally give highly personal answers.
One of them, a self-described podcast “junkie,” said she has called New York City Public Radio veteran Brian Lehrer’s talk show “a million times.”
“He knows my voice,” the woman added.
Another prospective juror told the judge that he lived alone and that his wife and son had recently died.
Wael Hana, co-defendant of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, arrives at the U.S. Federal Court in New York, Monday, May 13, 2024.
Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images
A man who worked as a lawyer at a bank told Stein he had previously contributed to Menendez’s political campaigns.
The man, who said the donation was made at the request of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said he has made “dozens” of similar donations over the years.
American Public Policy Council Support Menendez In January, two months before the senator announced he would not Entering the Democratic primary for re-election But it leaves the door open for independent candidacy.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
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