Former N.J. Sen. Bob Menendez’s newest argument for a brand new trial was rejected Wednesday by a federal decide.
Menendez, 71, was convicted in July 2024 on fees of bribery and appearing as a overseas agent for Egypt. His sentencing stays on schedule for Jan. 29.
Menendez’s newest argument involved a laptop computer pc utilized by the jury throughout deliberations. Prosecutors admitted that buried within the many trial reveals, there was some materials that ought to have been redacted from the jury’s view. Menendez and his protection workforce argued that was grounds for a brand new trial.
United States Lawyer’s Workplace
Authorities mentioned they discovered, amongst different issues, gold inside a secure deposit field belonging to Sen. Robert Menendez. (United States Lawyer’s Workplace)
However Manhattan Federal Decide Sidney Stein identified Menendez’s many protection attorneys had their very own time to assessment the laptop computer, they usually didn’t flag the unredacted materials.
“Either defense counsel chose not to inspect these exhibits or defense counsel did open and review these exhibits but did not notice the improper redactions,” Stein wrote in his determination. “Either scenario undercuts the theory that this evidence is a smoking gun laying [sic] in plain view.”
Menendez, who served 18 years within the U.S. Senate as a Democrat, was convicted on all 16 counts he confronted after jurors deliberated for about 13 hours. Prosecutors have really helpful he be sentenced to fifteen years in jail subsequent week.
Federal brokers raided Menendez’s home in 2022 and located $480,000 in money and $150,000 price of gold bars hidden within the dwelling, together with a Mercedes-Benz convertible within the storage and different valuables.
The suspicious gadgets got to Menendez as bribes for him pushing Egyptian and Qatari pursuits in authorities, together with getting his buddies off the hook in New Jersey, based on investigators. The feds mentioned Menendez “put his power up for sale” from 2018 to 2023.
