In a bid to overturn his corruption conviction, former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has requested a new trial, alleging that jurors improperly reviewed unredacted evidence during deliberations. The materials, according to his legal team, introduced critical information that linked him to the alleged bribe-for-favors scheme—a connection they argue was inadmissible under constitutional protections.
Menendez’s motion follows a Nov. 13 admission by prosecutors that nine pieces of improperly redacted evidence were reviewed by the jury. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the error does not justify discarding the verdict.
Central to the case is the accusation that Menendez, once the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, accepted bribes—ranging from gold bars to luxury goods—in exchange for influencing military aid decisions favoring Egypt. Menendez’s lawyers contend the unredacted evidence tainted the proceedings by presenting theories barred by the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause.
The defense also criticized prosecutors for attempting to shift blame, claiming they were given insufficient time to review the extensive trove of exhibits before deliberations began.
The ripple effects of the case extend to two co-defendants, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, who are also seeking new trials. Both were convicted alongside Menendez in July, when the former senator was found guilty on all 16 counts, including bribery and corruption.
Meanwhile, a separate trial for Nadine Menendez, the senator’s wife, remains delayed as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
Menendez resigned from the Senate in August after nearly two decades of service. New Jersey voters recently elected Democrat Andy Kim to fill the vacated seat.
The next chapter in this legal battle unfolds on Jan. 29, 2025, when sentencing is scheduled for Menendez and his co-defendants.
