Senator Bob Menendez’s federal defense attorneys bribery trial On Wednesday, the New Jersey Democrat suspended his case without taking a stand.
After leaving the New York courthouse, Menendez gave a brief statement to reporters and announced his decision not to testify.
“From my perspective, the government has failed to prove every aspect of this case,” the senator said, adding that he did not believe the testimony made sense and expected the jury to return a not guilty verdict.
Closing arguments are expected next week.
Prosecutors claimed it was in the form of a bribe gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash A search of Menendez’s home in 2022 found “most of it stuffed in envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe,” according to the indictment.
They also said the bribes were paid by three businessmen in exchange for Menendez’s official acts as a senator from 2018 to 2022.
Menendez is on trial with two businessmen – Wael Hana and Fred Daibes – after a third man, Jose Uribe. admitted his guilt and agreed to testify in court as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, is also charged in the case. His trial has been postponed as he recovers breast cancer surgery.
There is a senator he pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, including bribery, acting as a foreign agent of Egypt, and obstruction of justice. He also has a wife and two other businessmen he pleaded not guilty.
He resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee shortly after his indictment in September, but resisted. He calls on his fellow Democrats to resign.
Menendez has served in the Senate since 2006. He filed for re-election last month. as independent and is expected to face representative Andy Kim. who won the Democratic Senate primaryand Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw in November.