Sen. Bob Menendez’s Defense in Corruption Trial Faces Skepticism
In the closing stages of Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial, prosecutors cast doubt on his explanations for the presence of cash and gold bars in his home, seized during an FBI raid. The veteran lawmaker’s claims, particularly his assertion that he was unaware of the valuables in his bedroom closet due to his wife’s habit of keeping it locked, were labeled as “preposterous” by the prosecution.
During the government’s closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni reminded jurors of the key evidence presented over the two-month trial. This included incriminating text messages, the sources of the cash, and the value of the gold ingots. Monteleoni also highlighted Menendez’s alleged attempt to influence the appointment of a New Jersey federal prosecutor who might have derailed a friend’s 2018 bank fraud indictment.