Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirshner said Friday that Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey may have a successful defense by blaming his wife, Nadine, for gifts he allegedly received.
Mr. Menendez and his wife were originally indicted on bribery conspiracy charges in September, but six months ago the Justice Department announced new charges in a superseding indictment, including obstruction of justice, extortion, and honest services wire fraud. announced. It has been submitted March 5 Kirschner said the fact that the Menendezs are being tried separately will help their defense. (Related article: ‘Totally obsessed’: Ana Navarro appears to be pushing Bob Menendez’s legal issues onto his wife)
“Once the case is severed, the law gives priority to co-defendants to be tried together in one trial,” Kirshner said. “That’s true for a number of reasons. Although his wife’s case has been discontinued and she will now be tried separately, Mr. Menendez will now have what I call a vacant plea. His attorney… Figuratively, he would point to the empty chair where his co-defendant’s wife was supposed to sit and say, “She’s the bad guy, she’s the guilty one.” She did everything and he didn’t know anything about it. ”
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But Kirshner noted that his wife could mount a similar defense and that the government has important evidence against the New Jersey senator.
“There’s some strong evidence,” Kirshner said. “As well as $480,000 worth of items, more than 10 gold bars were also hidden throughout the home. Part of the evidence suggests that these gold bars were given to the senator and his wife. He says he doesn’t know anything about it, but some of the evidence reviewed by the prosecution includes what Sen. Menendez Googled and, to quote, 1km. The price of gold bars is included. It doesn’t seem like something you’d randomly Google, and let me tell you, I love that kind of evidence and used it all the time when I was a prosecutor. ”
Menendez announced in September that he would “temporarily” step down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following the indictment. He went on trial on corruption charges in 2017, but his jury returned a hung verdict.
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