A New York City jury is poised to reconvene on Tuesday to continue deliberating in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat accused of accepting lucrative gifts in exchange for using his political influence to aid three businessmen and the Egyptian government.
The 70-year-old senator has vehemently maintained his innocence, faced with 16 counts of corruption including allegedly meddling in criminal investigations, obstructing regulatory proceedings, and serving as an unregistered foreign agent for Egypt.
Alongside Menendez, two New Jersey businessmen are also on trial, with all three defendants entering not guilty pleas. A third defendant, who pleaded guilty beforehand, testified against the accused senators and businessmen.
The case has been marked by significant seizures of assets, including $150,000 worth of gold and $480,000 in cash found during a 2022 raid on Menendez’s New Jersey home. The FBI discovered some of the cash hidden in boots and jackets emblazoned with the senator’s name.
As the jury delves into its deliberations, Menendez expressed optimism on Monday that they were carefully reviewing the evidence, suggesting the prosecution’s case was more complicated than initially perceived. In response to the jury’s queries, Menendez stated that the government’s case is “not as simple as they made it to be.”
The jury’s questions, raised in two separate notes, included inquiring about the necessity of unanimity in rendering a verdict. During closing arguments, lawyers on both sides spent over 15 hours presenting their cases.
Prosecutors pointed to numerous instances in which they alleged Menendez actively helped the businessmen, while also accusing him of acting as an agent for Egypt through his efforts to expedite a $99 million helicopter ammunition contract. In addition, they cited Menendez’s close communications with high-ranking Egyptian officials.
Menendez’s lawyers, on the other hand, argued that their client never accepted bribes and that his actions were standard for a public official, adding that he was simply performing foreign duties expected of him in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The senator was forced to relinquish his role after charges were brought against him.
In a surprise announcement several weeks ago, Menendez announced his plans to run for reelection as an independent this year.
