Introduction to the Case
A jury is resuming deliberations Monday in the bribery case brought against Nadine Menendez after a prosecutor told a jury that she was a “critical participant” in a five-year fraud with her husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.
The jury began considering the charges against the 58-year-old Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, resident in mid-afternoon on Friday in Manhattan federal court. Jurors went home nearly two hours later without reaching a verdict.
Background on the Defendants
Bob Menendez, 71, a New Jersey Democrat, is to report to prison in June to begin an 11-year sentence. He stepped down from his Senate post after his conviction last year.
Trial Proceedings
During a closing argument Thursday, Nadine Menendez’s lawyer, Barry Coburn, argued that the evidence was insufficient to result in a conviction.
In a rebuttal argument on Friday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal urged the jury to convict Nadine Menendez, saying they would have to believe that over $450,000 in cash and gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more that were found by the FBI in their home were gifts rather than bribes.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecutors said Nadine Menendez was a partner in her husband’s crimes, helping to collect payoffs from three New Jersey businessmen in a wide-ranging scheme. The defense argued some of the gold she received was not bribes, but rather were passed down from her family or were gifts from businessmen who were longtime friends. NBC New York’s Jonathan Dienst reports.
“They weren’t gifts,” he said. “They were bribes.”
He called the evidence against her “consistent and overwhelming” and described her as an “active participant, a critical participant” in the bribery scheme.
Biography of Nadine Menendez
Born in Lebanon of Armenian descent, Nadine Menendez began dating the senator in early 2018 when she was known as Nadine Arslanian. Prosecutors said she soon joined a bribery scheme involving three New Jersey businessmen. The couple was married in the fall of 2020.
Bob Menendez, whose Senate career began in 2006, carried out the bribery scheme while he held powerful positions on the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He was forced from the committee after he was charged in the case.
Trial Postponement
The trial for Nadine Menendez was postponed last year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and required surgery.
Conclusion
The outcome of the trial is still uncertain as the jury continues its deliberations. The case has significant implications for the political landscape and highlights the importance of accountability in public office.
FAQs
Q: What are the charges against Nadine Menendez?
A: Nadine Menendez is charged with bribery in connection with a scheme involving her husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.
Q: How long did the jury deliberate before going home without a verdict?
A: The jury deliberated for nearly two hours before going home without reaching a verdict.
Q: What is the significance of the gold bars found in the Menendez home?
A: The gold bars are a key piece of evidence in the case, with prosecutors arguing they were bribes and the defense claiming they were gifts or family heirlooms.
Q: What is the status of Bob Menendez?
A: Bob Menendez is scheduled to report to prison in June to begin an 11-year sentence after his conviction last year.
