Jurors in the high-profile bribery trial of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez resumed deliberations for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, tasked with deciding the fate of the embattled Democrat. Menendez stands accused of accepting bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for leveraging his political influence to their benefit.
The jury, composed of six women and six men, began their deliberations last Friday afternoon and continued through Monday without reaching a verdict. As Menendez exited the courthouse on Monday, he remarked, "It is obvious the government's case is not as simple as they made it out to be," indicating the complexity and potential division among the jurors.
During their discussions, the jurors posed two critical questions to Judge Sidney Stein: whether a not guilty verdict on a single count requires unanimity and if intervening in the federal prosecution of Fred Daibes in New Jersey falls under counts 11 and 12 of the indictment. Judge Stein clarified that unanimity is required for both guilty and not guilty verdicts on each count and each defendant.
Menendez faces 16 of the 18 counts in the indictment, including charges of obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent, bribery, extortion, and honest services wire fraud. The counts referenced by the jurors specifically involve allegations that Daibes, a real estate developer, provided Menendez and his wife with gold bars and cash in exchange for Menendez's efforts to influence a federal prosecutor's nomination who could potentially dismiss a bank fraud case against Daibes. Additionally, these counts include allegations that Menendez made public statements in support of Qatar and introduced Daibes to a member of the Qatari royal family.
Judge Stein responded to the jury's inquiries, stating, "Intervening in the federal prosecution of Daibes falls within counts 11 and 12, only if the jury concludes that the government has proven each of the elements of counts 11 and 12 beyond a reasonable doubt."
The trial also includes Wael Hana, the owner of a halal certification company, who, along with Daibes, has pleaded not guilty. Nadine Menendez, the senator's wife, was also charged in the alleged scheme, but her trial has been postponed indefinitely due to her recovery from breast cancer surgery.
Monday's proceedings were marked by Menendez's assertion that the government's case is more intricate than presented. "The jury's finding that out," Menendez told reporters, expressing his belief that the jurors are grappling with the complexities of the case.
The trial, which has extended into its 10th week, has seen the jury carefully reviewing extensive evidence and testimony. The prosecution has emphasized nearly $150,000 in gold bars and over $480,000 in cash seized from the Menendez home during a 2022 FBI raid, asserting these as proceeds of bribery. A Mercedes-Benz convertible found in the couple's garage was also highlighted as part of the alleged bribes. Prosecutors argue that Menendez acted as an agent for Egypt, facilitating military shipments and engaging in communications with Egyptian officials as part of his role.
Menendez's defense has countered these claims, asserting that the senator's actions were legitimate tasks expected of a public official. His lawyers contend that Menendez never accepted bribes and that his efforts, including speeding up $99 million in military shipments to Egypt, were part of his duties as a senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position he relinquished after the charges were announced.
