Sen. Menendez Trial Rolls On; Jury 'Deadlocked'

Did a dismissed juror’s comments about U.S. Senator Robert Menendez’s ongoing criminal corruption trial - and the resulting media coverage that stemmed from her interview - “contaminate” her peers? Not enough to derail the high-profile trial from rebooting on Monday with an alternate juror, a federal judge decided.

Menendez, a veteran Democrat lawmaker from New Jersey once dubbed the "Boss of Hudson County,” is facing corruption charges for allegedly offering a friend political favors in exchange for lavish gifts and campaign contributions.

Political pundits have offered mixed opinions about which way the jury has been leaning since the trial started on Sept. 6. On Monday afternoon, the jury reported that they were deadlocked and could not reach a verdict.

• See related article: Sen. Menendez Corruption Trial (What We Know So Far)

The “contamination” controversy started Thursday when U.S. District Judge William Walls dismissed a Hillside woman and juror on the case so that she could take a previously arranged vacation to the Bahamas, a condition agreed to at the onset of the trial.

After her dismissal, the woman opined that “they’re trying to throw a good man under the bus,” and said that the other jurors are divided about whether Menendez was guilty. She said that the jury was fiercely divided about Menendez's possible culpability, and said that some jurors told her that her vote “didn’t count” because she was likely going on vacation.

Four jurors and three alternates still serving on Menendez’s case said that they saw the resulting news coverage about her statements. The senator’s attorneys said that, if true, it may constitute jury misconduct.

Walls disagreed, stating that the things jurors saw in the media are most likely the same as what they’d already heard in the courtroom. He instructed the remaining jurors to disregard last week’s deliberations. “You are now a new jury,” Walls said. “You’re starting afresh.”

On Monday afternoon, the jury reported that they were deadlocked and could not reach a verdict.

Walls' reply? Try again on Tuesday.

Watch: Menendez Leaves Court After Jury Deadlocks

THE CHARGES

Menendez's trial represents a rare event in recent U.S. history: a sitting senator facing felony charges.

Menendez, identified as a Paramus resident in a Department of Justice statement, was indicted in April 2015 on charges of conspiracy, violating the travel act, bribery, honest services fraud and making false statements.

According to prosecutors, Menendez allegedly conspired with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, to use the power of his senate office to influence the outcome of ongoing contractual and Medicare billing disputes worth tens of millions of dollars to Melgen. In addition, Menendez allegedly supported the visa applications of several of Melgen's girlfriends.

In exchange, Menendez received almost $1 million worth of lavish gifts and campaign contributions, prosecutors stated.

• See related article: Menendez Indicted On Corruption Charges
• See related article: Senator's Alleged Wrongdoings Run Gamut of Illegal Activity

The list of alleged gifts includes flights on Melgen's private jet, numerous vacations at Melgen's Caribbean villa in the Dominican Republic and a hotel room in Paris, $40,000 in contributions to his legal defense fund and more than $750,000 in campaign contributions.

Menendez never disclosed any of the reportable gifts that he received from Melgen on his legally required financial disclosure forms, prosecutors stated.

In April, a federal jury in South Florida convicted Melgen of 67 criminal counts of fraud in a separate case that also involved Medicare.

Following his indictment in 2015, Menendez proclaimed that he was "angry, ready to fight and not going anywhere."

Menendez's legal team has asserted that Melgen's generosity was simply his way of sharing his wealth with a close friend.

"The Justice Department doesn't know the difference between corruption and friendship," Menendez said. "I will be vindicated."

• See related article: Most Democrats Think Sen. Menendez Should Resign If Convicted (Poll)

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Photo: menendez.senate.gov