Gen. Menéndez trial stalled after jurors get trapped in elevator

NEW YORK – The trial of Sen. Bob Menendez was halted Tuesday after federal courtroom jurors turned trapped in an elevator. The day earlier than they needed to depart their common assembly room as a result of flooding.

Choose Sidney H. Stein stated jurors had been trapped in an elevator for a number of minutes throughout what was alleged to be a 10-minute break late within the afternoon however lasted almost half an hour.

The elevator breach occurred when jurors had been moved to a gathering room on one other stage of the constructing as a result of the carpet of their common assembly room, situated simply exterior the courtroom, had gone sunk on Monday after somebody left the sink faucets operating over the weekend. Because the jurors left, Stein gave them a humorous warning: “Do not all get on the identical elevator. “

The crash occurred on a day when prosecutors filed arguments towards the Democrat, with proof they hoped would acquire factors in entrance of jurors towards Menéndez and his two co-defendants: two -businessmen from New Jersey who bribed him, in response to the federal government, with a golden bull, a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} in money and a automotive.

Attorneys for Menendez, 70, who lives in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and the businessmen say their purchasers aren’t responsible and that the federal government is making an attempt to barter a typical bond. between a politician and his constituents to show it into crimes.

Among the many witnesses who testified Tuesday was a person who labored for the State Division through the years prosecutors say Menendez used his highly effective place as chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee to curry favor to hunt from the Egyptian authorities and thus capable of preserve the movement of bribes in Egypt.

Joshua Paul, who now works as a advisor for a non-governmental group, testified that the fee and its chairman have extraordinary powers over the State Division as a result of he controls its management, governs how he works and certifies embassies all around the world.

After his arrest final fall, Menéndez was pressured to resign, though he resisted calls to depart the Senate.

Along with bribery, extortion, fraud and obstruction of justice, Menendez can be accused of working as a international agent in Egypt.