Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged a judge to reject U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s request to delay his bribery trial scheduled for next spring by two months, until July. Prosecutors argued against the postponement a week after defense lawyers offered multiple reasons why they say a trial of the Democrat and codefendants, including his wife, should be delayed.
Quick Read
- Rejection of Trial Postponement Request: Federal prosecutors have urged a judge to reject U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s request to delay his bribery trial, which is currently scheduled for May 6. Menendez had requested a two-month postponement until July.
- Prosecutors’ Argument Against Delay: Prosecutors argue that the original trial date is appropriate and should not be delayed, emphasizing the public interest in a speedy trial. They noted that there were no objections to the May 6 date when it was initially announced.
- Defense Lawyers’ Reasons for Delay: The defense team cited the need to review over 6.7 million documents, address complex legal questions, and handle an “unprecedented” foreign-agent charge as reasons for requesting a delay. They argued that even with a two-month adjournment, the trial would still occur within 10 months of the arrests.
- Charges Against Menendez and Co-defendants: Senator Menendez, his wife, and codefendants are facing charges of bribery conspiracy. The allegations include accepting bribes such as cash, gold bars, and a luxury car from businessmen seeking the senator’s influence in foreign affairs. Additionally, Menendez and others are charged with conspiring to act as agents of the Egyptian government, which is prohibited for a member of Congress.
- Defense’s Plan to Request Dismissal: The defense lawyers intend to ask Judge Sidney H. Stein to dismiss the indictment on various grounds, including constitutional issues, sufficiency reasons, and the argument that the New York federal court is an inappropriate venue for the trial.
- Prosecutors’ Response to Evidence Volume: Prosecutors contend that the large volume of evidence should not delay the trial, as it is consistent with what was promised at the first conference in October. They maintain that the current expedited schedule is reasonable, despite the complexity of the case.
The Associated Press has the story:
Prosecutors oppose Sen. Menendez’s effort to delay May bribery trial until July
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged a judge to reject U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s request to delay his bribery trial scheduled for next spring by two months, until July.
Prosecutors argued against the postponement a week after defense lawyers offered multiple reasons why they say a trial of the Democrat and codefendants, including his wife, should be delayed.
The senator gave up his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his September arrest.
Prosecutors said the original May 6 trial date was appropriate and drew no objections when it was announced even though circumstances were the same.
“The schedule was and remains reasonable, and in accord with the strong public interest in a speedy trial,” prosecutors wrote.
Defense lawyers cited over 6.7 million documents to be reviewed, an “unprecedented” foreign-agent charge and complex legal questions to be addressed as they asked for a delay of a trial now scheduled for May 6. They said a two-month adjournment would still bring defendants to trial within 10 months of their arrests.
Four defendants, including Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge that alleges that Menendez and his wife accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator’s help and influence over foreign affairs.
The senator, his wife and a third defendant have also pleaded not guilty to a charge that they conspired to utilize the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government even though he was prohibited from doing so as a member of Congress.
In asking for a delay, defense lawyers wrote, “Given the complexity of this case and the seriousness of the charges at issue, the speed with which this case is proceeding is extraordinary.”
They said they plan to ask Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan to dismiss the indictment on multiple grounds, including for constitutional and sufficiency reasons and because New York federal court is the wrong venue.
Prosecutors said in their letter to the judge that the voluminous amount of evidence turned over to the defense should not delay the trial because it was consistent with what the government promised at the first conference in October.
“In short, if there were a right to have multiple months to digest discovery prior to filing motions, as the defendants appear to suggest, practice in this district would look quite different. The current schedule set by the Court is expedited, but reasonable,” prosecutors said.
