Robert Menendez seeks to throw-out his corruption case verdict after prosecutors slip-up with evidence. The ex-New Jersey senators legal team found that jurors got their hands on nine un-edited documents during last summers trial
The mix-up involves some key proof about military-aid to Egypt which shouldnt have been shown to the jury because of speech-or-debate rules. The defense team says they had no real chance to catch these mistakes: they got a laptop with almost 3000 files to check in just a few hrs
Two other people caught up in this mess — businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana — are also trying to get new trials. The whole group was found guilty of swapping favors for gold bars cash and even a Mercedes (which is quite the list of fancy gifts)
The timing is pretty tight here; the judge Sidney Stein needs to decide this before Jan 29 next yr when everyoneʼs supposed to get sentenced. Meanwhile Nadine Menendez the senators wife cant go to trial yet because shes getting cancer treatment; her case might start early 2025
After serving almost 19 yrs in the Senate Menendez stepped down this past summer. The voters picked Andy Kim to take his spot just a few weeks ago‚ keeping things in democrat hands