Jury selection is underway for Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial. As of Monday afternoon, no jurors had been seated for the trial, which is expected to continue through the end of June. Out of 152 potential jurors, 38 were excused for various reasons, leaving 114 to return for continued selection. The trial will focus on whether evidence shows that Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, were part of a bribery scheme involving meddling in criminal investigations and actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, while co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the others. Menendez’s wife, who is also charged, will have her trial delayed until at least July for health reasons. This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has faced federal corruption charges.
In a separate indictment unsealed in March, Menendez was charged with obstruction of justice in connection with an alleged bribery scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. The 18-page indictment, which is part of Menendez’s existing charges, accuses him of acting as a foreign agent and accepting bribes to benefit the Egyptian government. Co-defendants, including Menendez’s wife Nadine, have also been charged with similar offenses. The indictment also alleges that Menendez committed conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, and wire fraud. The charges were brought after co-defendant Jose Uribe accepted a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with investigators.
Prosecutors claim that Menendez instructed his lawyers to inform the U.S. Attorney’s Office about payments made for his wife’s mortgage and car, which were actually bribe payments rather than loans as Menendez purported them to be. Additionally, Menendez is accused of accepting bribes and gifts in exchange for helping to benefit Qatar as part of a corruption scheme from 2021 through 2023. Menendez, his wife, and the three businessmen were first charged in the federal bribery scheme in September, with all pleading not guilty. The trial is expected to shed light on the alleged corrupt activities involving Menendez and his associates.
The ongoing trial will see jurors tasked with determining whether the evidence presented against Menendez and his co-defendants shows their involvement in a bribery scheme influencing criminal investigations and benefiting foreign governments. Menendez, Daibes, Hana, and Nadine Menendez have all denied the charges against them, with co-defendant Uribe pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate with authorities. The indictment also alleges that Menendez committed various offenses, including obstruction of justice, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, and wire fraud. The case marks the second instance in a decade where Menendez has faced federal corruption allegations, with his wife’s trial postponed until at least July due to health reasons.
Menendez is facing a range of charges related to bribery, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent in connection with a sprawling corruption scheme involving the governments of Egypt and Qatar. The indictment against Menendez and his co-defendants asserts that they accepted bribes and gifts to benefit foreign governments using Menendez’s influence as a senator. With one co-defendant having pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, the case against Menendez is moving forward as jury selection continues. The trial is expected to last through the end of June, while Menendez’s wife’s trial has been delayed until at least July due to health concerns.
