Prosecutors oppose Sen. Bob Menendez’s effort to delay May bribery trial until July

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Federal prosecutors have strongly objected to Senator Bob Menendez’s request to postpone his bribery trial, originally scheduled for May, by two months to July. This opposition comes in response to the defense’s arguments for a delay, which cited several factors, including the need to review over 6.7 million documents, an unusual foreign-agent charge, and complex legal issues.

Senator Menendez, a Democrat, had to relinquish his position as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following his arrest in September. The bribery conspiracy charge alleges that he and his wife accepted bribes in the form of cash, gold bars, and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen seeking his assistance and influence in foreign affairs.

Additionally, the senator, his wife, and a third defendant face a charge of conspiring to use the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government, despite his congressional prohibition from such activities.

The defense argued that the complexity of the case and the seriousness of the charges warranted a delay. They also expressed their intent to request the dismissal of the indictment on various grounds, including constitutional and sufficiency issues and the argument that the New York federal court is not the appropriate venue.

In contrast, prosecutors contended that the original trial date of May 6 was appropriate and aligned with the public’s interest in a speedy trial. They emphasized that the extensive volume of evidence provided to the defense should not impede the trial, as it was consistent with the government’s commitments made during the initial conference in October.

In their communication to Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan, prosecutors emphasized that the current schedule, while expedited, remained reasonable, challenging the notion that there should be extended months for the defense to digest discovery before filing motions.

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More about Bribery Trial Delay

• Senator Bob Menendez’s bribery trial
• Bribery conspiracy charge
• Foreign-agent charge
• Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Federal prosecutors
• Judge Sidney H. Stein
• New York federal court
• Speedy trial