Menendez Criminal Trial Scheduled: What's Next For Accused NJ Senator

NEW JERSEY — A trial for New Jersey’s senior senator is expected to take place next spring, as Democrat Robert Menendez and his wife stand accused of accepting bribes of gold bars, cash, and a car from three businessmen who sought the senator’s help and influence over foreign affairs.

The tentative trial date of May 6 would come just one month before New Jersey’s June 4 primary, meaning the trial could still be underway when voters start casting ballots on whether to return Menendez to his Senate senate. An attorney for the government gave the judge an estimate of four to six weeks, per the Associated Press.

Menendez was excused from being present for Monday’s court hearing in New York City, after his lawyers said he needed to be in Washington for Senate business. The judge declined similar requests from Nadine Menendez and the fellow co-defendants: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes. All four have claimed they are innocent.

An indictment last month charged Sen. Menendez, formerly the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with taking payouts in exchange for corrupt acts that included passing information to Egyptian military and intelligence officials.

Among other things, prosecutors accused Menendez of ghostwriting a letter for Egyptian officials that sought to influence U.S. policy on military aid. The indictment also said Menendez used his influence to try and pressure state and federal prosecutors in New Jersey into giving lenient treatment to friends or associates who were the subject of criminal investigations, and interceded with U.S. regulators to protect an associate’s business deal.

Authorities found nearly $500,000 in cash, much of it hidden in clothing and closets, as well as more than $100,000 in gold bars in a search of the New Jersey home that Menendez, 69, shares with his wife, Nadine.

Menendez has pleaded not guilty and said the cash found in the house was personal savings he had squirreled away for emergencies. He has also refused calls to step down, which have been coming from other top Democrats in New Jersey and in the Senate.

Prosecutors have accused Hana of being a conduit between Menendez and Egyptian officials. They said Hana gave Nadine Menendez a job, gave her money to make mortgage payments, wrote checks to her consulting company, promised envelopes of cash and gave her gold bars. They said Menendez used his post to facilitate foreign military sales and financing to Egypt, which gave Hana’s business a lucrative, worldwide monopoly over religious certification for imported meat.

More than half of Senate Democrats have said that Menendez should resign, including fellow Garden State Sen. Cory Booker. Gov. Phil Murphy has, as well. Menendez has said he intends to stay in the Senate, saying he is certain he will ultimately be exonerated.

Monday’s court hearing in the Menendez case took place just a short walk from where former President Donald Trump was appearing in court in a civil fraud lawsuit.

Besides setting a trial date, Judge Sidney Stein gave prosecutors a December deadline to turn over certain evidence to the defense.

Related articles:

• Feds Say NJ Sen. Menendez Aided Egypt
  
• Menendez Says He Will Not Resign, Is Innocent After Bribery Indictment
  
• NJ Sen. Menendez, Wife Make Court Appearance After Bribery Indictment

The Associated Press contributed to this report.