Former US Senator Robert Menendez has asked a federal court to throw out his recent corruption conviction, citing an error that allowed jurors to review improper evidence during deliberations. Menendez was convicted on July 16 of accepting bribes in exchange for shepherding military aid to Egypt.
Prosecutors had initially admitted that the jury reviewed nine pieces of evidence containing material that should have been redacted, but said this did not justify setting aside the verdict. However, Menendez’s lawyers argue that the exposure of unredacted material could have influenced the jury’s deliberations and potentially altered their decision.
The mistake involved the jury reviewing exhibits before they were presented in court, which is alleged to be a waiver of their right to object. Menendez’s lawyers describe this as an “outrageous” attempt by prosecutors to shift blame onto the defense team. They claim that the defense had only hours to review nearly 3,000 exhibits and could not have possibly reviewed everything.
Menendez’s wife Nadine, who was also charged in relation to her husband’s case, has seen her trial postponed due to treatment for breast cancer and is now set to face charges early next year. Menendez resigned from the US Senate in August after being convicted on all 16 counts, and was replaced by Democrat Andy Kim in New Jersey elections held earlier this month.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/former-nj-senator-menendez-seeks-new-trial-says-error-tainted-conviction-2024-11-27