Washington — Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, may implicate his wife during his upcoming trial where he will defend himself against accusations of exchanging his political sway for money, gold bars, and a luxury Mercedes, as per recently revealed court documents.
A legal filing from Menendez's legal team suggested that the senator could discuss conversations with his wife that would illustrate "the ways in which she kept information from him" or "led him to believe that nothing illegal was happening."
The revelation about Menendez's potential defense strategy, previously redacted, was unveiled by a federal judge following a request from various news organizations, including CBS News.
Menendez was charged in September with allegations that he and his wife, Nadine, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes while leveraging his authority and connections to benefit and safeguard three businessmen in New Jersey and support the Egyptian government.
Following a superseding indictment, Menendez and his wife were accused of collaborating as a foreign agent for Egypt and receiving lavish gifts in exchange for positive remarks about Qatar. The most recent indictment, revealed in March, charged the couple with hindering the investigation into the purported long-standing corruption scheme.
Menendez and his wife have entered a plea of not guilty for all the allegations.
The trial for the New Jersey senator is set to commence in early May, while Nadine Menendez will face a separate trial. Due to a medical condition, the federal judge has postponed Nadine's trial until at least July, as she requires surgery for treatment.
According to her legal representatives, Nadine Menendez is grappling with a "serious medical condition necessitating a surgical procedure." The surgery is expected to take place in the coming weeks, with the possibility of substantial follow-up care and recovery.
