NEW YORK — The bribery trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is able to begin with opening statements Wednesday as prosecutors search to persuade a jury that the longtime highly effective Democrat was prepared to promote his affect to profit three businessmen in return for money, gold bars and a elaborate automobile.
The three-term senator has insisted since his fall arrest that he’s not responsible of costs that he used his affect to assist three New Jersey businessmen, together with by offering favors to the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Prosecutors say the boys showered Menendez and his spouse with items to make sure Menendez would assist them.
Menendez, 70, is on trial in Manhattan federal courtroom with two of the businessmen. A 3rd has pleaded responsible and agreed to testify towards the opposite defendants. Menendez’s spouse is scheduled to be tried in July.
For the senator, the trial represents the second time he has been criminally charged in a federal courtroom within the final decade.
In 2017, a federal jury deadlocked on corruption costs introduced in New Jersey, and prosecutors didn’t search to retry him.
These costs have been unrelated to the present prosecution of Menendez, who held the highly effective put up of chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee earlier than he was compelled from the job after the brand new costs have been revealed final fall.
Choose Sidney H. Stein mentioned late Tuesday that he anticipated to have a jury in place by mid-morning on Wednesday, on the newest. Opening statements would begin quickly afterward.
Menendez is on trial with Fred Daibes, a New Jersey actual property developer, and businessman Wael Hana. All have have pleaded not responsible.
An indictment alleges that Daibes delivered gold bars and money to Menendez and his spouse to get the senator to assist him safe a multimillion-dollar take care of a Qatari funding fund by appearing in methods favorable to Qatar’s authorities.
The indictment additionally mentioned Menendez did issues benefitting Egyptian officers in alternate for bribes from Hana because the businessman secured a profitable take care of the Egyptian authorities to certify that imported meat met Islamic dietary necessities.
Menendez has mentioned he is not going to be looking for reelection on the Democratic ticket this fall, though he has not dominated out operating as an impartial.
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