Introduction to the Case
After a three-month trial, in which attorneys for former New Jersey Senator, Bob Menendez, said it was his wife Nadine who was to blame for the cash and gold found in their Englewood Cliffs home, Menendez appears to be having a change of heart.
The Letter from Bob Menendez
In a letter addressed to Judge Sidney Stein ahead of Nadine’s September 11th sentencing, Bob Menendez wrote that he regrets that she was painted as money hungry during his trial.
“I regret that I didn’t fully preview what my Defense Attorney said about Nadine during my trial and in his summation. To suggest that Nadine was money hungry or in financial need, and therefore would solicit others for help, is simply wrong,” he wrote.
Nadine’s Financial Situation
Menendez added that Nadine actually had money of her own from a previous divorce, and that any discussions about mortgage or car payments that were referred to in the trial, were the result of fears of a lawsuit following the fatal car accident she was involved in, back in 2018.
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.
Request for Leniency
The 71-year-old wrote his letter from prison at FCI Alletown in Pennsylvania and stated that his wife, of five years, has been punished enough and has lost everything she cared about.
“Your Honor, you gave me a tough sentence that surely serves the deterrent value you said was needed. To imprison Nadine, would not recognize the trauma she has suffered, how it has affected her and her judgment, and I would respectfully say would not have any greater deterrent effect,” he wrote.
Nadine’s Attorneys’ Argument
Nadine’s attorneys voiced a similar sentiment in their 25-page letter to the judge. The letter detailed the hardships she’s encountered throughout her life, writing, “Nadine is not her husband, or her co-defendants. Despite all of the Government’s efforts to present her as a vixen, the reality is far from that. She is a deeply traumatized woman.” They added, “her entire life has been marked by men who have taken advantage of her, and harmed her, in myriad ways.”
Request for Sentence
Her attorneys are requesting 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment when she is sentenced on September 11th.
“This entire case has been an exercise in deterrence. There is no need for additional specific deterrence. In her late 50s, Nadine is a first-time offender with no risk of re-offending. Nadine’s entire life has already been destroyed—her husband is serving an 11-year sentence, she is a social pariah, and she cannot step outside of her home or go to the grocery store without attracting attention,” her lawyers wrote.
Conviction and Trial
In April, Nadine was convicted of the same corruption charges that sent Robert Menendez to prison for 11 years.
Her trial was separate from her husband’s and two other New Jersey businessmen, so she could undergo treatment for breast cancer.
Medical Concerns
Several medical professionals also wrote letters on Nadine’s behalf. A former BOP physician wrote that Nadine would not be able to get the medical attention needed for her breast cancer treatments and that home confinement would be the better option for her.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the case of Nadine Menendez is a complex one, with her attorneys and husband arguing for leniency in her sentencing due to her traumatic past and current medical conditions. The judge’s decision will be crucial in determining the outcome of this case.
FAQs
Q: What is Nadine Menendez’s current situation?
A: Nadine Menendez is awaiting sentencing on September 11th for her conviction on corruption charges.
Q: What is her husband Bob Menendez’s role in the case?
A: Bob Menendez, the former New Jersey Senator, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for the same corruption charges and has written a letter to the judge requesting leniency for his wife.
Q: What are Nadine’s attorneys arguing for?
A: Nadine’s attorneys are requesting 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment and arguing that she has already been punished enough due to her traumatic past and current medical conditions.
Q: What are the medical concerns for Nadine?
A: Nadine is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and medical professionals have written letters arguing that she would not be able to receive the necessary medical attention in prison and that home confinement would be a better option for her.
