Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial is ongoing and jury selection has been underway, with zero jurors seated as of Monday afternoon. The trial is being held in a Manhattan courtroom and is expected to continue through the end of June. The judge excused 38 of 152 jurors by Monday afternoon for various reasons, leaving 114 jurors to return for continued selection. The jurors will need to determine whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen shows they were involved in a bribery scheme, including meddling in criminal investigations and actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, while co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the others. Menendez’s wife is also charged, but her trial has been delayed due to health reasons.
Bob Menendez faces federal corruption charges related to a multi-year bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. A superseding indictment was unsealed in March, adding obstruction of justice charges to Menendez’s existing charges. Menendez and his co-defendants, including his wife, are accused of acting as foreign agents and accepting bribes to benefit the Egyptian government. The indictment also includes conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, and wire fraud charges. The new indictment references payments made for Nadine Menendez’s home mortgage and luxury vehicle, suggesting the funds were actually bribes, not loans as Menendez claimed.
Menendez is accused of accepting bribes and gifts in exchange for helping to benefit Qatar as part of a corruption scheme from 2021 through 2023. Along with his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, Menendez was first charged in the federal bribery scheme on September 23. The senator, his wife, and the businessmen have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is ongoing, and Menendez is facing serious corruption allegations that could impact his political career and reputation.
The jury selection process for Menendez’s federal corruption trial has been ongoing, with no jurors seated as of Monday afternoon. The trial is expected to continue through the end of June in a Manhattan courtroom. Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen are accused of being part of a bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other defendants. Menendez’s wife is also charged in the case, but her trial has been delayed due to health reasons.
A superseding indictment unsealed in March added obstruction of justice charges to Menendez’s existing charges related to a bribery scheme involving the Egypt and Qatar governments. Menendez and his co-defendants, including his wife, are alleged to have acted as foreign agents and accepted bribes to benefit the Egyptian government. The new indictment also includes conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, and wire fraud charges. The indictment references payments made for Nadine Menendez’s home mortgage and luxury vehicle, suggesting they were actually bribes, not loans as Menendez claimed.
Menendez is also accused of accepting bribes and gifts in exchange for aiding Qatar in a corruption scheme from 2021 through 2023. Along with his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, Menendez was first charged in the federal bribery scheme on September 23. The senator, his wife, and the businessmen have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is ongoing, and Menendez is facing serious corruption allegations that could have significant consequences for him and others involved in the case.
