Former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) can be sentenced on corruption fees subsequent month as deliberate after a federal decide declined to delay the continuing forward of the ex-lawmaker’s spouse’s trial.
U.S. District Choose Sidney Stein on Monday rejected Menendez’s request to push again the Jan. 29 sentencing till his spouse, Nadine, completes her trial on related fees. He did, nonetheless, delay Nadine Menendez’s trial to February over the issues raised by the New Jersey Democrat and his spouse.
The previous senator final week requested for a brand new sentencing date so the jury chosen to listen to his spouse’s case wouldn’t be tainted by the result of his trial. In a separate letter, his spouse’s legal professional argued that the sentencing ought to happen earlier than or after her continuing, not throughout.
“Mr. Menendez’ trial was a number of months ago, and while numerous members of our venire likely will be aware of it, it likely will be a relatively distant memory,” wrote lawyer Barry Coburn, who represents Nadine Menendez.
“Sentencing of a former United States Senator likely would engender such a flash of intense publicity that it likely would be known to virtually every prospective juror in our case, and would be a recent memory,” he added.
Menendez was convicted in July on 16 corruption fees, from accepting luxurious bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in trade for his political clout to appearing as a overseas agent of Egypt.
Two of the businessmen have been additionally convicted at trial whereas the third man pleaded responsible earlier than dealing with a jury.
Nadine Menendez’s trial will now start on Feb. 5. It was beforehand postpone following a breast most cancers prognosis and surgical procedure however was later scheduled to start on Jan. 21. She has pleaded not responsible.
