The high-stakes bribery trial of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continued on Friday as jurors deliberated for three hours without reaching a verdict. Menendez, a Democrat, expressed his faith in God and the jury as he left Manhattan federal court. The panel of six men and six women began their deliberations to determine whether Menendez, 70, accepted bribes as part of an extensive scheme involving three Garden State businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
The charges against Menendez include leveraging his influential position as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to interfere in state and federal investigations, protect an illicit halal meat monopoly, and act as an illegal foreign agent for Egypt and Qatar. Businessmen Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and Jose Uribe allegedly showered Menendez and his wife with bribes, including gold bars, cash, and other favors.
The jury adjourned for the day after three hours of deliberation and will reconvene on Monday morning. Menendez, known for singing show tunes in court to calm his nerves, faces 16 different felony charges, including bribery, extortion, and obstructing justice. If convicted on the top counts, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Hana, 40, and Daibes, 64, are also implicated in the alleged bribery plot. Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, 57, faces charges as well, but her case has been separated from her husband’s and postponed until later this year due to her ongoing recovery from breast cancer. Uribe, a disgraced insurance broker and convicted fraudster, pleaded guilty earlier this year and testified during the trial, revealing that he bought Nadine a new Mercedes in exchange for promises from the senator to interfere with state criminal investigations involving his associates.
Despite the charges, Menendez has refused to resign from his Senate position and maintains his innocence. His defense team has employed a “blame-my-wife” strategy, arguing that Nadine kept him unaware of the payoffs requested by Hana, Daibes, and Uribe. Lawyers representing Daibes and Hana contend that the cash and gold bars were merely “gifts” and not illegal bribes.
