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NEW YORK — Opening statements in the bribery trial of Nadine Menendez are set to commence on Monday amid criticism from her husband, former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who claims that she is being subjected to unfair treatment by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
Nadine Menendez, aged 58, was initially supposed to stand trial alongside her husband, 71, last year. However, complications from a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery prompted a postponement. She has entered a plea of not guilty regarding allegations of participating in a bribery scheme linked to her husband’s recent conviction.
Expressing his concerns, Bob Menendez remarked on social media prior to the jury selection, “My wife, who had breast cancer reconstructive surgery just days ago, is being forced by the government to go to trial tomorrow.” He criticized the Southern District of New York, suggesting their actions reflect a “cruel and inhumane” stance and implored them to allow her adequate time for recovery.
In January, Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from three businessmen in New Jersey. His conviction stemmed from accusations that he leveraged his political influence to assist these individuals in transactions with foreign governments and acted as a foreign agent for Egypt.
Following his conviction, Bob Menendez resigned from his Senate position. A judge subsequently postponed the commencement of his prison sentence until June 6, allowing him to support his wife during her trial.
Throughout Bob Menendez’s two-month trial, Nadine was frequently referenced concerning her interactions with the implicated businessmen. There was testimony claiming that one businessman gifted her a luxury vehicle after the senator intervened in a state criminal investigation involving one of his associates.
The couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, became a focal point during investigations. In 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant and uncovered over $100,000 in gold bars and roughly $480,000 in cash concealed in various locations throughout their home, including envelopes, shoeboxes, jackets, and boots.
During the trial, Bob Menendez asserted that the gold belonged to Nadine and attributed the presence of the cash to a personal tendency to save money, stemming from his parents’ experiences after fleeing Cuba in 1951 with minimal possessions.
Having previously triumphed in another corruption-related case a decade ago, Menendez has voiced parallels between his situation and that of former President Donald Trump, who has criticized the judicial processes, particularly in New York City. He referenced Trump in a complaint shared on social media.
“This process is political, and it’s corrupted to the core,” he stated to reporters after his sentencing. He expressed hope that President Trump would reform the judicial system to restore its integrity.
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