Sen. Robert Menendez arrives at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, New York City, Could 13, 2024.
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A decide on Monday admonished attorneys for taking part in lawful video games soon just after they convened for the start off of the federal bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
“There is been far too much gamesmanship here,” Decide Sidney Stein advised prosecutors and defense lawyers right before jury variety started for the trial in federal courtroom in Manhattan.
“Everyone has to function in fantastic religion here,” Stein explained, introducing, “I am not confident I have viewed that.”
Menendez, 70, donning a darkish suit and striped crimson tie with his gold senator’s pin on his lapel, listened along silently in the courtroom.
Two of his co-defendants, the New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, sat behind him. Jose Uribe, a third businessman who was billed in the scenario, pleaded guilty on March 1 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
The judge’s stern words shut down an trade about some evidence that could be utilised in the demo of the as soon as-impressive senator, who is accused of accepting piles of dollars, gold bars and other presents in trade for official acts.
Prosecutors allege Menendez took hundreds of hundreds of bucks in bribes from New Jersey businessmen to advantage them and the nations of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez was chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee, but stepped down from that role subsequent his indictment in September 2023.
He has pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including bribery, wire fraud, extortion, performing as a international agent and obstruction of justice.
His wife, Nadine Menendez, is also billed in the corruption circumstance, but her trial was severed from her husband’s because of to what her legal professionals stated were health care troubles. Her demo is delayed at least until eventually July she was not in courtroom with her partner Monday morning.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Business office for the Southern District of New York explained to Stein that they be expecting to lay out their case in four-and-a-fifty percent to six-and-a-50 % months.
The trial itself could final close to six to seven months, Stein advised dozens of prospective jurors prior to providing them a rough outline the 18-depend indictment towards Menendez and his co-defendants.
The senator’s federal kicked off just a handful of blocks from Manhattan Supreme Court docket, where former President Donald Trump is on demo on fees similar to plan to silence porn star Stormy Daniels with hush revenue just before the 2016 election.
This is producing news. Be sure to verify back again for updates.
