that he accepted bribes from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for protecting their business interests.
The testimony would demonstrate “the absence of any improper intent” on Menendez’s part and blame his wife by showing ways she allegedly withheld information from the senator that led him to believe he was not doing anything unlawful, according toThe senator’s wife has her separate trial scheduled for July, more than a month after the senator’s trial will have started.
Menendez’s lawyers asked a judge to keep the court filing secret because they claim its release could reveal a trial strategy that might bias the jury pool and gain media attention, the Times reported, noting the filing was unsealed by the judge “at the request of a coalition of news organizations.”Key Background
Menendez was accused by federal prosecutors last year of using his government position to benefit businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes and the government of Egypt in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes to the senator and his wife. The bribes allegedly included gold bars, cash and a luxury car. Menendez was hit within a January superseding indictment accusing him of making positive comments about Qatar in exchange for millions of dollars.