Sen. Bob Menendez’s defense attorney, Adam Fee, asserted to a New York jury that the government’s bribery case against the senator holds no merit during the closing arguments in Manhattan federal court. Fee argued that Menendez’s actions were in line with the expectations of elected officials and he was simply fulfilling his duties effectively. Menendez, aged 70, maintains his innocence regarding allegations of accepting gold bars and cash from New Jersey businessmen between 2018 and 2022 and then reciprocating with actions to benefit their interests.
Accompanied by two businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, who also pleaded not guilty, Menendez faces the trial, with Jose Uribe, another businessman involved, having pleaded guilty and testified against the defendants. The trial for Menendez’s wife, Nadine Menendez, also indicted but pleading not guilty, has been delayed due to her recovery from breast cancer surgery. Following the completion of closing arguments by the defense attorneys and a rebuttal from the prosecutors, the jury is set to commence deliberations after receiving legal instructions from the judge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni highlighted the presence of gold bars and large sums of cash discovered in a 2022 FBI raid on the Menendez residence in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, linking Daibes and Hana directly to these items. Monteleoni pointed out that the gold bars’ serial numbers could be traced back to Hana and Daibes, implicating them in providing these valuables. Prosecutors alleged that these gifts were exchanged for favors from Menendez, such as support for Hana’s meat export certification monopoly and assistance for Daibes in various business matters, including intervention in a criminal prosecution against him by leveraging Menendez’s influence.
