DAY EIGHT
After a one-week break, jurors returned to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in Lower Manhattan to resume the federal corruption trial of three-term U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey. A no-show juror – she had been injured on Monday – delayed the start of Day Eight until after lunch.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A federal judge rejected a bid by prosecutors to introduce evidence that was “critical to their case” – a win for Menendez. Prosecutors have asked the judge to reconsider and are awaiting his ruling.”
DAYS SINCE THE INDICTMENT: 249
DAYS SINCE MENENDEZ’S LAST CRIMINAL TRIAL ENDED: 2,385
DAYS UNTIL THE NEW JERSEY FILING DEADLINE: 7
Menendez is not running in the June Democratic primary but has not ruled out running as an independent if he’s acquitted. He is circulating petitions in advance of next week’s filing deadline.
MISSED VOTES: 14
The Senate convened his morning for a pro forma session, with most senators remaining in their home state after the Memorial Day weekend.
And in case you’re keeping track: it’s been 43 Years and 27 Days since a United States Senator from New Jersey was last convicted of accepting a bribe.
BOB’S BIG BREAK
— Prosecutors in Bob Menendez trial can’t use evidence they say is critical to case, judge rules by CBS News’ Caitlin Yilek: “Prosecutors trying to prove that New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez wielded his political influence in exchange for bribes cannot show jurors evidence that they argue is ‘critical’ to their case, a federal judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein said prosecutors could not use text messages from 2019 that allegedly show Menendez, who was the top Democrat on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, assuring Egypt and the New Jersey businessmen who are alleged to have bribed him that he was not delaying military aid to the country after Egypt heard he had put a hold on it. The jury also cannot see another text from 2022 in which the senator’s wife, Nadine, allegedly told one of the businessmen that ‘Bob had to sign off on this.’ The text included a link about two pending foreign military sales to Egypt, according to prosecutors.”
DRIP-BY-DRIP
— Prosecutors build their case at bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez with emails and texts from the Associated Press’ Larry Neumeister: “Prosecutors were presenting their bribery case against New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez drip-by-drip on Tuesday, showing jurors a steady stream of documents, emails and phone records that they’ll explain more thoroughly later in the trial. The evidence was being shown to Manhattan federal court jurors through the testimony of an FBI agent as the government slowly presents its case against the Democratic lawmaker … Some evidence being presented without commentary probably seemed familiar to jurors based on earlier testimony and opening statements.
LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY I BLAME YOU
— Prosecutors say messages between Sen. Menendez, wife reveal details of Egypt-focused scheme by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilipo: “n texts, emails, and voicemails, Nadine Arslanian gushed like a smitten teenager soon after she began dating Sen. Bob Menendez in 2018, addressing him as ‘mon amour,’ ‘love of my life,’ and ‘my very handsome senator.’ She followed those sweet nothings with requests that ran far outside the normal romantic chitchat of new relationships, asking the senator to set up unofficial meetings with Egyptian military leaders to discuss security issues, divulge details about staffing at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, and share information about U.S. military aid temporarily withheld from Egypt over human rights abuses … Another email from Menendez’s personal Gmail showed a ghost-written letter — with the opening and closing salutations left blank — that prosecutors say Menendez drafted for Egyptian officials. The missive was meant to persuade American senators who were concerned about Egypt’s worsening human rights record to lift a hold on U.S. military aid to Egypt. Most of the messaging unfolded in secret — on the couple’s private Gmail accounts and encrypted apps like Viber and WhatsApp.”
IT WAS NICE OF NADINE TO LOAN HER PHONE TO A DIPLOMAT
— Menendez trial: ‘Missing’ juror causes delay; prosecution focuses on relationship with co-defendants by News 12’s Chris Keating: Jurors saw a text from 2018 before Nadine Menendez and the senator were married. It was sent from a man identified as a representative of the Government of Egypt. It read, ‘Senator, I’m using Nadine’s phone. I’m Andy Aslanian…We can definitely help you with your election campaign…Those arrangements can be made through Nadine. Jurors also learned that Wael Hana had a relationship with an Egyptian major general at the embassy… The start of court got off to a late start on Tuesday as one juror failed to show up because of an injury she suffered on Monday. After a call from the judge, the day began in full after lunch.”
WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?
— 4 questions that could determine Bob Menendez’s legal – and political – fate from CNN’s Gregory Krieg: “ The slow-burning corruption trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is poised to reach a combustible new phase this week as prosecutors and defense lawyers test the boundaries of the court, the law and the federal judge running the show. U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein, whose gentle speaking style belies his firm grip on the proceedings, has increasingly been faced with decisions about what evidence can and cannot be introduced – or even discussed – by the prosecution. The defense, too, has at times tested his patience with its questioning of witnesses and tactical objections…. Can prosecutors thread the (constitutional) needle? … Will Menendez take the stand? … What will the jury make of the Blame (Nadine) Game? … How does it play back home?”
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAKES IT INTO A MENENDEZ CORRUPTION STORY, AGAIN
— The Long, Sordid History of Foreign Governments Courting Members of Congress from Time’s Aaron Coy Moulton: “The relationship between foreign governments and members of Congress is generating headlines and drawing scrutiny. First, on May 3, the Department of Justice charged Texas Representative Henry Cuellar with bribery, money laundering, and doing work on behalf of a foreign government. Then on May 15, the trial began for New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, who stands charged with using his office to facilitate favorable deals and agreements involving select businesspeople and the Egyptian and Qatari governments. The Menendez case has produced sensational and salacious details — ranging from stacks of cash to gold bars found in the Senator’s residence — attracting a massive media spotlight. Cuellar has said he is innocent and Menendez has pleaded not guilty.”
* Bob Menendez’s Biggest Campaign Expense Isn’t Even for Campaigning
SENATOR ON TRIAL: DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE | DAY FOUR | DAY FIVE | DAY SIX | DAY SEVEN