Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is expected to blame his wife during his federal corruption trial as part of a defense strategy, newly unsealed court documents reveal.
In court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Senator Menendez's lawyers argued that his case would be dismissed due to his intention to present evidence that would imply that his wife, Nadine, is guilty. Separating a case means the co-defendants would be tried separately in two trials, rather than one as a couple.
The couple pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. They are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, for the benefit of several businessmen and the Egyptian government.
Nadine's case was already closed when the documents, which were filed in January, came to light on Tuesday, but the documents give clues about what evidence could come to light at trial.
SEN MENÉNDEZ CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN ANOTHER SUPERIOR ACCUSATION
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is expected to blame his wife during his federal corruption trial as part of a defense strategy. (Getty Images)
In the court filing, lawyers suggest that the Democratic senator will present evidence showing that he was unaware of the allegedly illegal activities. Attorneys say Menendez can testify about communications with his wife that could exonerate him but may implicate Nadine, who allegedly withheld information from her husband.
“At trial, as part of his defense, Senator Menendez may choose to testify about communications with his wife that serve to materially diminish any inference of guilt on the part of Senator Menendez,” the document states.
“Senator Menendez will explain, for example, what he and his wife discussed at the same time as their dinners with Egyptian officials (which influenced his understanding of the purpose of such dinners); the explanations Nadine provided as to why [co-defendants Wael Hanna and Jose Uribe] had provided him with certain monetary items; the reasons why he sent his wife a series of questions that other senators supposedly intended to ask an Egyptian official; and many more topics.”
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An evidence photograph shows gold bars that were gifted by Fred Daibes and found in the home of New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Nadine Menendez. A federal indictment was unsealed on Friday, September 22, 2023, charging Senator Menendez and his wife, along with three New Jersey businessmen, with bribery crimes related to alleged efforts to use their political position to help the Arab Republic of Egypt. (United States District Court)
“They can incriminate Nadine by demonstrating the ways in which she withheld information from Senator Menendez or made him believe that nothing illegal was happening,” the documents add.
The bribes, which were allegedly given to the couple by New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, in exchange for Menendez's power and influence. The senator and his wife are also accused of receiving gifts from José Uribe, who pleaded guilty to bribery in March.
In early April, Nadine Menendez's lawyers asked to postpone her trial after an “unexpected medical event” arose. She was diagnosed with a “serious medical condition” on April 9, her attorneys said.
Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife, Nadine Menendez, arrive at the federal courthouse in New York on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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The senator's trial is scheduled to begin on May 6, while his wife's is scheduled for July 8.
Fox News Digital's Pilar Arias and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
