Federal corruption trial of NJ Sen. Bob Menendez begins with jury selection and opening statements, focusing on bribery allegations.
A dozen jurors and six alternatives were chosen Wednesday and began hearing opening statements in the high-profile federal corruption trial of New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez. Opening statements are expected to take up to three hours total, and prosecutor Lara Pomerantz was allotted 45 minutes.
U.S. Judge Sidney H. Stein told the jurors, “use your common sense, use your life experience, use your good judgment.”
Jurors will determine whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, shows a bribery scheme that allegedly involved meddling in criminal investigations and taking actions to benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez “put his power up for sale,” while aiding the Egyptian government and trying to brush criminal cases under the rug in exchange for 22 gold bars, jewelry, cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible, according to the prosecutor’s opening statements, the New York Times reported.
