Senator Bob Menendez revealed that his wife, Nadine Menendez, is battling breast cancer amid his ongoing trial for bribery charges. Nadine’s trial was postponed to August 5th due to her recovery from breast cancer surgery, as she had to undergo a mastectomy for grade 3 breast cancer. The New Jersey Democrat stated that his wife would need follow-up surgery and possibly radiation treatment. Nadine’s attorney mentioned that she recently had invasive cancer surgery and is in intense, chronic pain, leading the judge to grant her request to waive appearance at the hearing.
The couple is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors. The alleged bribes included cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. Prosecutors claim that the senator helped the businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar in exchange for the lavish gifts. Both Bob and Nadine Menendez have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Despite being physically absent from the trial, Nadine has played a central role in the case, with the senator’s attorneys attempting to shift blame to her by arguing that he was unaware of her financial challenges and dealings with the businessmen.
The prosecution has alleged that Bob Menendez used his wife as a go-between with the businessmen, being careful when committing crimes. The senator’s trial began on May 13th, while Nadine underwent treatment for breast cancer. The postponement of Nadine’s trial to August will allow her time to recover and potentially undergo further treatments as necessary. The delay in her trial date was necessary due to her ongoing health concerns, and the couple continues to maintain their plea of not guilty against the bribery charges. Despite her absence from the courtroom, Nadine Menendez remains a significant figure in the case.
