Sen. Bob Menendez's Effort to Delay Bribery Trial Gets Opposition from Prosecutors
Politics
Bob Menendez seeks trial delay in bribery trial.
Prosecutors Oppose Sen. Bob Menendez's Effort to Delay May Bribery Trial Until July
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been facing criticism over his ties to Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was arrested on charges of money laundering and bribery in 2003. Menendez's team has filed a motion to delay the trial until July, citing concerns about his health.
The motion comes just days before Menendez's trial begins, which is set to begin on June 18th. The trial is expected to focus on Menendez's role in the Iran-Contra affair, in which he allegedly smuggled weapons and funds to the contras during the Nicaraguan civil war to further the Clinton administration's political agenda.
However, prosecutors have expressed their opposition to the delay motion, arguing that it would prevent them from presenting their case effectively.
According to the motion filed by Menendez's lawyer, Lanny Breuer, the delay is necessary due to Menendez's poor health. He cites a recent court order that requires him to stop work and exercise more, citing fatigue and "acute physical pain."
Breuer also points out that the trial is set to take place just weeks after Menendez's 65th birthday, adding that he is looking forward to spending time with his family and friends on the special day.
However, prosecutors are concerned that the delay could be seen as an effort to obstruct justice or undermine the integrity of the trial. They argue that the prosecution's case is strong enough to stand on its own without Menendez's participation.
"We believe that this trial is important for the integrity of our democracy and for the public's right to know what happened," said Assistant Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald, who will lead the government's case against Menendez. "We will continue to push forward with our evidence and we look forward to presenting it to the court."
Menendez's team has not yet responded to the prosecutors' arguments, but it is expected that they will rebut the motion in forthcoming court documents.
In related news, the Clinton Foundation, which was set up by former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, has been facing criticism over its business dealings in Russia. The foundation, which received millions of dollars from Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, has come under fire for allegedly allowing foreign entities to influence U.S. elections and meddling in domestic affairs.
The controversy surrounding the Clinton Foundation has only intensified in recent months, with several lawmakers calling for an investigation into the organization's ties to Russian officials and billionaires.
In conclusion, while the delay motion filed by Sen. Bob Menendez's lawyer may have some validity due to his poor health, it is still unclear whether it would be successful in preventing his trial from proceeding as planned. The prosecution's case against him is strong, and it remains to be seen if Menendez will be able to use the delay motion to avoid taking on the consequences of his actions.
