Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife, Nadine, are facing a potential delay in their bribery trial scheduled for May 6. This delay comes after Nadine Menendez requested more time to address a medical condition.
According to Nadine Menendez's attorneys, she is dealing with a "serious medical condition that will require a surgical procedure in the next four to six weeks, as well as potentially significant follow-up and recovery treatment."
The government, in response to the request, has stated that they do not object to the delay and have proposed rescheduling the trial for July or August.
As of now, the judge overseeing the federal case in New York has not yet approved the delay. Both the government and Nadine Menendez's legal team have suggested a status hearing in June, about eight weeks from now, to reassess the trial's timing. The trial was initially set to commence in early May.
Senator Menendez, along with his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, have been accused in a bribery scheme. The allegations suggest that Menendez and his wife received cash, gold bars, and other gifts in exchange for business and legal favors. They are accused of using Menendez's position as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the Egyptian and Qatari governments, as well as assisting the charged businessmen.
The defendants have entered a plea of not guilty.
Additionally, Menendez is facing allegations of working as an unregistered foreign agent. He and his wife are also charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.
Despite calls from some members of his own party, like Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Menendez, 70, has refused to resign from the U.S. Senate.
Menendez has been serving in the Senate since 2006.
