Embattled senator Bob Menendez's trial will continue without his wife and co-defendant, Nadine, as she's going through a health problem at the moment. He stands accused of taking bribes in exchange for political favors.
The decision was confirmed by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein on Thursday at a hearing in a federal court in New York. The trial is still scheduled to begin on May 6.
Nadine Menendez's health issue was not disclosed, but her attorneys said the condition requires surgery and "possibly significant recovery" time. Her trial was delayed until July 8.
The senator had asked for their cases to be separated from each other as he intended to "present a defense arguing (in part) that he lacked the requisite knowledge of much of the conduct and statements of his wife, Nadine," NBC News reported.
Ms. Menendez's lawyers, in turn, argued that a joint trial would "undoubtedly prejudice Ms. Menendez's right to defend herself."
Menendez had also requested that the trial be postponed, but his attorney said in court Thursday that they wanted to proceed as quickly as possible in the end.
He recently dismissed the chance of running for re-election as a Democrat and said he will do so as an independent if cleared from the charges.
However, a recent poll shows that his decades-long standing in local and national politics might not help him retain his seat.
The survey, conducted by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill, showed Menendez with a meager 9 percent support in the general election, compared to 49 percent for the Democratic candidate and 42 percent for the Republican one.
Representative Andy Kim is cruising to be the Democratic candidate, with over 50 percent of support and a large lead over all other contenders.
Same as the Democratic party, voters seem to have soured on Menendez following the accusations against him. The poll shows him with a 14 percent job approval among New Jersey voters, compared to 62 percent who disapprove of him.
Menendez faces an array of charges alleging that he and Nadine accepted bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and even a luxury car, to help and protect three local businessmen and benefit the governments of Qatar and Egypt.
They have also been accused of obstructing the investigation in the case. Both have pleaded not guilty.
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