Federal corruption trial of convicted NJ senator's wife Nadine Menendez delayed indefinitely due to breast cancer treatment
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The federal corruption trial of Sen Bob Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, came to an indefinite halt after a judge postponed the proceedings, just hours before the 70-year-old embattled New Jersey Democrat was found guilty of involvement in a bribery scheme accepting gold bars, cash, and other bribes, according to the New York Post.
Judge Sidney Stein issued a brief ruling on Tuesday morning, stating that it was in the interest of “the ends of justice” to adjourn Nadine Menendez's trial, which was originally scheduled to take place later this year.
The judge did not give a specific reason for the decision but made it after a court filing from Nadine's lawyer in June, which outlined her ongoing "intense, chronic pain" following surgery that involved "medical equipment [being] implanted in her body" due to her breast cancer treatment.
What prompted Judge Sidney Stein to adjourn the trial of Nadine Menendez?
In May, Garden State Sen Bob Menendez announced that his wife was undergoing treatment for "Grade 3 breast cancer" and would require a mastectomy.
According to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, Nadine Menendez was involved in a conspiracy that included the exchange of gold bars, cash, and a luxury car with corrupt New Jersey businessmen, as well as officials from Egypt and Qatar.
In a joint statement, the senator's attorneys, Avi Weitzman and Adam Fee emphasized that Menendez's “highest priority is his wife’s health, and we are pleased that she is being given the time she needs to focus on treatment and recovery.”
Throughout the course of the federal corruption trial, Menendez's lawyers presented a defense strategy that sought to place blame on Nadine, suggesting to the jury that she had concealed her actions from her influential spouse and was responsible for soliciting the alleged bribes from his co-defendants.
The jury's verdict, convicting Sen Bob Menendez on all 16 felony charges, indicates that they did not accept the defense's assertion regarding the origin of the gold bars and other illicit gifts discovered by FBI agents in the couple's bedroom.
Nadine's attorney, Barry Coburn, declined to provide a comment on Tuesday.
Despite being present with her husband during prior court proceedings, including one where she carried a Chanel handbag to the defense table, Nadine did not attend his trial.
