Federal investigators discovered over $480,000 in cash and 13 gold bars worth over $100,000 during a search of Senator Bob Menendez’s New Jersey home in June 2022. Menendez had been charged with corruption the year prior and explained that his habit of withdrawing and storing cash each month was a result of his family’s experiences in Cuba. The senator’s attorneys argued that this habit was a coping mechanism stemming from traumatic events in Menendez’s life, including intergenerational trauma and his father’s suicide. A psychiatrist evaluated Menendez and was expected to testify at trial regarding his mental condition and the reasons behind his cash storing habit.
However, prosecutors objected to the psychiatrist’s proposed testimony, claiming it lacked scientific basis and was an attempt to gain sympathy from the jury. They requested that Menendez be examined by a separate psychiatrist if the judge allowed Rosenbaum to testify. Menendez’s trial was set to begin in May 13 on charges alleging that he and his wife accepted bribes and acted as a foreign agent for Egypt. Prosecutors alleged that Menendez used his power and influence to benefit businessmen and the government of Egypt, as well as obstructed the investigation into the corruption scheme. Menendez and his wife pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a court filing, prosecutors revealed that envelopes containing cash found in Menendez’s possession had the fingerprints or DNA of one of the businessmen involved in the case, while the gold bars could be linked to two of them. Some of the cash had been withdrawn in amounts of at least $10,000 at a time from a bank where the Menendezs did not have a known account, indicating that the money had been provided by another individual. Menendez suggested that he might incriminate his wife during the trial, as she will be tried separately due to a medical condition that requires surgery. His lawyers indicated that he may testify about her withholding information or leading him to believe that their actions were not unlawful.
Caitlin Yilek, a politics reporter at cbsnews.com, reported on the case, outlining the details of Menendez’s legal troubles. The senator’s defense team argued that his cash-storing habit was a result of trauma and mental health issues, while prosecutors maintained that it was part of a corrupt scheme involving bribery and foreign influence. The upcoming trial will shed more light on the accusations against Menendez and his wife, as well as the details of their financial dealings. Menendez’s legal team will have to present a strong defense to counter the evidence and accusations brought forth by the prosecution.
