International Courant
Jury choice begins within the trial during which the highest Democrat is accused of taking bribes and performing as an unregistered overseas agent.
Jury choice has begun within the corruption trial of Bob Menendez, a number one US senator accused of taking bribes in alternate for a collection of favors and performing as an unregistered agent of the Egyptian authorities.
Menendez, 70, faces 16 felony costs and is being tried in Manhattan federal court docket together with two New Jersey businessmen.
Menendez sat along with his attorneys Monday and listened as Choose Sidney H Stein informed a number of dozen potential jurors in regards to the costs.
The decide informed them that the “sitting United States Senator from the State of New Jersey” had been charged with a conspiracy during which he allegedly “agreed to simply accept bribes and settle for bribes.”
Menendez’s spouse, Nadine, has additionally been charged however shall be tried individually. All 4 suspects have pleaded not responsible.
In September, prosecutors accused Menendez and his spouse of accepting money, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible in alternate for the New Jersey senator exercising his political affect and serving to the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Authorities mentioned Menendez promised to assist Egypt receive arms gross sales and different navy help, and helped co-defendant Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman, receive a profitable monopoly on the certification of halal meat exports to Egypt.
Prosecutors additionally mentioned Menendez tried to assist his different co-defendant, outstanding New Jersey developer Fred Daibes, receive hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from a Qatari funding fund and tried to disrupt a federal felony case in opposition to Daibes in New Jersey.
A lot of the cash the couple obtained was stuffed into clothes of their house, prosecutors mentioned.
A number of weeks after the primary indictment was unveiled, US authorities additionally accused Menendez – who beforehand chaired the influential Senate International Relations Committee – of performing as an unregistered agent of Egypt.
In late September, Menendez informed reporters he was assured he can be acquitted within the case and proceed his political profession.
“I firmly imagine that when all of the information are offered, not solely will I be acquitted, however I’ll nonetheless be New Jersey’s senior senator,” he mentioned.
He additionally tried to defend his fame on Egypt.
“Throughout my three a long time within the Home of Representatives and the Senate, I’ve at all times labored to carry these nations, together with Egypt, accountable for human rights abuses, the oppression of residents, civil society and extra,” he informed on the time reporters.
Menendez is up for re-election in November and has mentioned he may run as an impartial if he’s acquitted within the felony case.
However latest polls present him deeply unpopular amongst New Jersey voters and lots of Democratic Celebration senators, together with New Jersey’s Cory Booker, have known as for him to resign.
Fewer than one in six voters surveyed in March by Monmouth College and Emerson Faculty Polling/PIX11/The Hill mentioned they accredited of Menendez’s job efficiency. Even fewer mentioned they might vote for him as an impartial.
That is Menendez’s second felony trial: In 2017, a New Jersey federal decide declared a mistrial after jurors deadlocked over whether or not he broke the legislation by offering assist to a rich ophthalmologist in alternate for lavish presents and political contributions.
US Senator Bob Menendez’s corruption trial begins | Courts Information
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