U.S. prosecutors have requested a postponement for the corruption trial of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife due to Nadine Menendez’s serious medical condition, necessitating surgery.
The trial, initially scheduled for May 6, is proposed to be delayed until July or August to allow Senator Menendez to focus on his wife’s health. However, prosecutors oppose the Menendezes’ request for separate trials.
Nadine Menendez’s medical condition, undisclosed but requiring surgery within four to six weeks and potential follow-up treatment, hampers her ability to participate in the scheduled trial, expected to last six weeks.
The couple, along with two other defendants, faces charges of bribery conspiracy, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
Allegations against Senator Menendez involve accepting cash, gold bars, and a luxury car in exchange for leveraging his influence domestically and on behalf of Egypt’s and Qatar’s governments. Both Menendezes are charged with obstruction of justice.
Senator Menendez, following his September arrest, relinquished his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has resisted calls for resignation.
Despite being up for re-election in November, he opted out of running in New Jersey’s Democratic primary, planning an independent run upon exoneration.
The trial postponement seeks to accommodate Nadine Menendez’s health needs, emphasizing the severity of her condition. However, prosecutors maintain opposition to separate trials, underscoring the gravity of the charges against the couple.
