Jury selection is ongoing for Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez's federal corruption trial, with zero jurors seated as of Monday afternoon. The trial, held in a Manhattan courtroom, is expected to run through the end of June. By Monday afternoon, 38 of 152 potential jurors were excused for various reasons, leaving 114 to return for further selection.
The trial will determine whether Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, were involved in a bribery scheme, including actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, while co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the others.
Menendez's wife, also charged, will have her trial delayed until at least July due to health reasons. This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has faced federal corruption charges.
In a new indictment, Menendez faces charges of conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion, and wire fraud. Prosecutors allege that Menendez accepted bribes and gifts to benefit Qatar as part of a corruption scheme from 2021 to 2023.
The indictment also accuses Menendez of instructing his lawyers to mislead the U.S. Attorney's Office about payments made for his wife's home mortgage and luxury vehicle, which were allegedly bribes. Menendez is further accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government.
Menendez, his wife, and the businessmen were initially charged in September, with all pleading not guilty. The trial continues with jury selection and the unfolding of complex allegations against the defendants.
