NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations have begun in the corruption trial of U.S. Sen.
Bob Menendez , who is accused of taking bribes and being a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. Over a 9-week trial, federal prosecutors in New York have sought to convince the jury that the New Jersey Democrat and his wife took bribes of gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible from three businessmen from 2018 to 2023 in exchange for a variety of corrupt acts. They say some of the bribes were for taking actions that benefited the government of Egypt, including helping it access U.
S. military aid. Prosecutors also say Menendez, 70, interfered with multiple criminal investigations and helped a business associate protect a contract awarded by the Egyptian government.
Menendez’s lawyers have argued that the senator did nothing wrong in his dealings with the businessmen and that nearly $150,000 in gold bars and over $480,000 in cash found at the couple’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home in a 2022 FBI raid were not bribe proceeds. Two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, are on trial with Menendez. His wife’s trial has been postponed while she recovers from breast cancer surgery.
All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. Menendez did not testify, but he has insisted publicly that he took no bribes and did no special favors for Egypt. Judge Sidney H.
Stein instructed the jury on the law Friday morning so they would have a roadmap to follow during their deliberations. .