Federal prosecutors concluded their closing arguments on Monday in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, labeling him a “bribed man” who exploited his powerful position for cash and gold. “It wasn’t enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington,” asserted federal prosecutor Paul Monteleoni.
Summary of Charges and Evidence
The trial, which began in May, involves Menendez and two New Jersey business people accused of bribing him. Menendez, along with his co-defendants, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution seeks to tie together over two months of testimony and evidence that allegedly positions Menendez at the center of multiple conspiracies. These include disrupting criminal cases against New Jersey business people and aiding the Egyptian government in exchange for bribes.
Details of Alleged Corruption
Monteleoni depicted a “clear pattern” of corruption, arguing that Menendez accepted bribes and took actions to benefit those bribing him. The prosecutor preemptively countered defense claims that Menendez was unaware of the bribes, or that they were merely gifts from long-time friends, by portraying Menendez’s wife, Nadine, as a “go between.”
Monteleoni highlighted several key pieces of evidence:
- Menendez allegedly accepted a $10,000 check for his wife’s “sham” consulting business from co-defendant Fred Daibes, a New Jersey real estate developer.
- Daibes is said to have delivered donuts and a gold bar worth nearly $60,000 to Menendez’s home, an assertion supported by a subsequent Google search by Menendez for the price of a kilogram of gold.
- Menendez purportedly attempted to disrupt a federal criminal case against Daibes and a state investigation involving another man who has admitted to bribing Menendez and Nadine with a luxury car.
Foreign Relations and Human Rights Concerns
The charges also include serious allegations related to Menendez’s tenure as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Monteleoni argued that Menendez compromised his longstanding concerns about human rights to assist the Egyptian government. This included ghostwriting a letter for fellow senators to downplay human rights concerns and taking other actions to benefit Egypt.
Monteleoni emphasized Menendez’s active involvement, citing numerous texts and phone calls with Nadine and the men accused of bribing them. “Why is he texting this to his girlfriend?” Monteleoni asked, referencing a text about arms sales sent by Menendez to Nadine before they married. He also noted testimony from Menendez’s staff, who observed the senator acting “weird” toward Egypt, to which Monteleoni commented, “Menendez wasn’t acting weirdly, he was acting corruptly.”
Defense Arguments to Follow
The defense is expected to present their closing arguments beginning Tuesday. Menendez and his co-defendants will aim to refute the allegations and present their narrative to the jurors, who will begin deliberations later this week.
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