In a high-stakes corruption trial, Senator Bob Menendez's defense team has delivered a strong argument urging the jury to acquit the New Jersey Democrat on all charges. On Tuesday, Adam Fee, one of Menendez's lawyers, told the Manhattan federal court jury that federal prosecutors had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove any of the charges against the senator beyond a reasonable doubt.
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| Sen. Bob Menendez’s defense attorney argues for acquittal, claiming insufficient evidence in the ongoing bribery trial. |
Defense Argument and Evidence Gaps
Fee argued that the prosecution's case was marred by significant gaps in evidence. He contended that the evidence presented was insufficient and left too much room for speculation. "The absence of evidence should be held against the prosecution," Fee asserted. "There's zero evidence of him saying or suggesting that he was doing something for a bribe."
Fee addressed the controversial discovery of over $100,000 in gold bars and more than $480,000 in cash found in a home owned by Menendez in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, during an FBI search in June 2022. While Fee acknowledged that the presence of these valuables was "provocative" and "atypical," he firmly rejected the notion that they were given as bribes. "Prosecutors have not come close to meeting their burden to show you that any of the gold or cash was given to Senator Menendez as a bribe," he said.
Fee criticized the prosecution’s reliance on inferences and argued that the evidence was unsupported by concrete documentation such as emails or text messages.
Charges and Trial Progress
Menendez faces 16 felony counts, including obstruction of justice, acting as a foreign agent, bribery, extortion, and honest services wire fraud. The trial, now in its ninth week, also involves two New Jersey businessmen—Wael Hana and Fred Daibes—who have been charged alongside Menendez. Hana and Daibes have pleaded not guilty to allegations that they provided bribes to Menendez to influence his actions in their business dealings.
A third businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and testified that he bought a Mercedes-Benz convertible for Menendez’s wife in exchange for the senator quashing criminal investigations into his business associates.
Prosecution’s Case and Rebuttal
Earlier in the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni accused Menendez of engaging in "wildly abnormal" behavior in response to the bribes. Monteleoni alleged that Menendez attempted to interfere in criminal cases handled by top state and federal prosecutors in New Jersey. He rejected defense arguments that Menendez was unaware of efforts by his then-girlfriend, Nadine Arslanian (who is now his wife), to obtain cash or favors.
To underscore Menendez’s alleged control over the bribery schemes, Monteleoni referenced testimony about a small bell that Menendez purportedly used to summon his wife. "The bell showed you he was the one in charge," Monteleoni argued. "He was not a puppet having his strings pulled by someone he summons with a bell."
Additional Context
Nadine Menendez, also charged in the case, has had her trial postponed due to recovery from breast cancer surgery. Despite the ongoing trial and the serious charges, Menendez has resisted calls for his resignation from some prominent Democrats. He relinquished his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following the charges but has filed to run for reelection this year as an independent.
Trial Continuation
Fee’s closing arguments, which are expected to continue on Wednesday, will be followed by arguments from two additional defense lawyers before prosecutors deliver their rebuttal. The jury is anticipated to begin deliberations on Thursday.
The outcome of this trial remains pivotal, as it not only affects Menendez's political career but also has broader implications for public trust in elected officials and the integrity of legal processes.
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