The high-profile federal corruption trial of New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat, began with opening statements on Wednesday, with the selection of twelve jurors and six alternates. Prosecutor Lara Pomerantz was given 45 minutes for her opening remarks, which might run up to three hours in total.
Chief U.S. Judge Sidney H. Stein gave the jury instructions to “use your good judgment, common sense, and life experience.”
The evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, will be presented to the jury, and they will decide whether or not it demonstrates a bribery plan that allegedly entailed interfering with criminal investigations and acting in ways that benefited the governments of Qatar and Egypt.
US v. MENENDEZ: Astonishingly, the dem senator’s corruption trial begins with a delay.
