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A trial choose has determined to sever the corruption case of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his spouse Nadine, that means there will likely be two separate trials and he’ll go first.
Thursday’s ruling comes two days after Nadine Menendez’s attorneys had requested a two-month delay in what was alleged to be a joint trial along with her husband to offer her time to take care of medical points.
Of their request to Decide Sidney Stein, Menendez’s attorneys didn’t reveal specifics of her medical situation. They did say it could require surgical procedure and “probably important restoration” time.
Stein mentioned Thursday that Nadine Menendez’s sickness and the dearth of readability as to when she will likely be properly sufficient to proceed is one purpose he opted to sever the case.
He additionally severed the case as a result of Nadine Menendez wants new legal professionals as a result of her present legal professionals are apparently conflicted and have to step apart. Her legal professionals could also be witnesses to the obstruction depend. She has 30 days to seek out new ones.
Prosecutors had wished to postpone the beginning of the trial till July or August. They argued “critical inefficiencies and unfairness” would consequence if Bob and Nadine Menendez, who have been charged with committing crimes collectively, have been tried individually. Prosecutors additionally mentioned dozens of witnesses must be recalled, together with at the very least one authorities official stationed overseas, and plenty of lay witnesses who dwell outdoors New York and are involved about testifying.
They did notice, of their letter to the choose, nonetheless, that “a time could come” when public curiosity in transferring the case expeditiously to trial supercedes these issues.
The bribery trial for Bob Menendez continues to be scheduled to begin Might 6. A tentative separate trial date for Nadine Menendez is July 8. Two businessmen are additionally on trial.
All have pled not responsible to fees that they participated in a bribery scheme through which prosecutors say money and gold bars got to the couple in return for favors that the senator may perform.
A fifth defendant, Jose Uribe, pled responsible to bribery fees final month and will likely be sentenced in June.
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