Thursday, July 4, 2024 3:56PMNew Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez said he chose not to testify Wednesday at his New York trial because he believes prosecutors failed to prove "every aspect" of the bribery case against him, a decision that cleared the way for closing arguments as early as Monday.
Judge Sidney H. Stein asked Menendez to rise from his seat to confirm that the decision not to testify was his alone. Menendez said that after extensive talks with his lawyers, he had decided against taking the stand. "I expect my lawyers will produce a powerful and convincing summation, deduce how the evidence came out, and where they failed across the board, and how the jury will render a verdict of not guilty," Menendez said before wishing reporters who followed him to his car a "Happy Fourth of July."
Prosecutors took seven weeks to present their case before resting last Friday. They offered evidence to show that Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, served as a go-between most times to connect the senator and the businessmen. An FBI agent testified earlier in the trial that he ordered the seizure of more than $486,000 in cash and over $100,000 in gold bars during the raid because he suspected that a crime may have taken place.
He has resisted calls to resign from the Senate and a month ago filed papers to run for reelection as an independent.
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