Trial in opposition to Bob Menéndez ends in New York – Telemundo New York (47)

NEW YORK – The bribery trial in opposition to Senator Bob Menendez, which started on Might 6, is getting nearer to ending.

The jury, made up of 6 males and 6 ladies, is anticipated to start deliberating this Thursday after the decide instructed them on the regulation following closing arguments.

Menendez, 70, pleaded not responsible to expenses of accepting gold bars and a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in money from 2018 to 2022 from three New Jersey businessmen and agreed to take official actions which might profit their pursuits, together with finance.

Menéndez, 70, may rise up to twenty years in jail, however the decide may think about giving him probation.

The senator is being tried along with two businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, who’ve additionally pleaded not responsible. Daibes is a distinguished actual property developer in New Jersey, and Hana was granted a monopoly to certify that meat exported to Egypt met Islamic requirements.

A 3rd businessman, José Uribe, pleaded responsible and testified in opposition to the others in the course of the trial. The trial of the senator’s spouse, Nadine Menendez, 57, has been postponed whereas she recovers from breast most cancers surgical procedure. He additionally pleaded not responsible within the bribery case.

Attorneys for Daibes and Hana additionally informed the jury that the federal government couldn’t show its case.

“The federal government is mistaken. He has not confirmed his case,” stated legal professional Lawrence Lustberg, Hana’s legal professional.

Closing arguments started Monday, when Assistant U.S. Legal professional Paul Monteleoni informed jurors that once they evaluation the proof, they’ll see that Dabies and Hana have been instantly accountable for gold bars and a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in money present in a 2022 FBI raid at Menendez’s residence in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

The prosecutor stated Daibes’ fingerprints have been “everywhere in the tape that sealed” an envelope full of hundreds of {dollars} in money that was present in cardboard bins, safes, boots and jackets within the dwelling. Menendez’s fingerprints have been typically discovered on the envelopes, he stated.

He informed jurors they’ll have the ability to examine the serial numbers of the gold bars to indicate that Hana introduced seven 1-ounce gold bars present in the home, and Daibes added 9 1-ounce bars, plus on 4 of 1 kilogram of gold.

“Why did Daibes and Hana bathe Menendez and his spouse with these valuables?” – Monteleoni requested. “What did they get once they parted with a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in gold, silver and different funds? The promise of energy.

“Robert Menendez, the US senator from the state of New Jersey, rating member after which chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee, put his energy up on the market,” he stated.

In change, prosecutors say, Hana acquired assist and safety for her monopoly on certifying meat exports to Egypt, whereas Daibes acquired assist in his enterprise pursuits and the senator’s efforts to forestall a legal case in opposition to him by recommending an previous good friend as a federal. prosecutor after the election of President Joe Biden.

For his half, on Wednesday, Senator Bob Menendez’s lawyer cited patriotism as a purpose to get his consumer and informed a federal jury that it might be a “victory for this nation” if he dismissed the bribery case authorities in opposition to the Democrats.

“This case dies right here at the moment,” legal professional Adam Charge informed a Manhattan federal court docket jury as they heard closing arguments for a 3rd day.

When Charge completed closing, Menendez shook his hand. As Menendez left the courtroom, the senator informed reporters: “We’ve eliminated the federal government’s false statements and uncovered its lies.”

Charge stated the federal government had not proven that “Bob’s actions have been something however what we would like our elected officers to do.”

“He was doing his job. He did properly,” Charge stated.

The lawyer warned jurors to withstand the temptation to simply accept the federal government’s “foolish story a few corrupt politician, as a result of he would not exist.”

Then, wrapping up his argument, he made his acquittal appear romantic, telling the jury that “America wins when weak instances from overzealous prosecutors are dismissed.” .”

“That,” Charge stated, “can be a victory for this nation.”