NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – The judge in U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial could rule on Monday to dismiss the bulk of the indictment against the New Jersey Democrat, a decision that prosecutors say could “broadly legalize pay-to-play politics.”
After hearing six weeks of testimony and viewing dozens of emails and documents that prosecutors allege show Menendez schemed to help a wealthy friend in exchange for free plane rides and luxury hotel stays, jurors may never get to deliberate those points.
That will depend on how U.S. District Judge William Walls decides on arguments by lawyers for Menendez and his longtime friend, Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, to dismiss the case. Lawyers on both sides are set to present additional arguments Monday morning before Walls decides.
At issue is a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned the conviction of former Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and narrowed the definition of bribery. In recent months, it has led judges to throw out bribery convictions for three former public officials, including a U.S. congressman.
After the prosecution rested its case and with jurors out of the room, Walls surprised some last week when he appeared to put to rest what was expected to be the trial’s central issue: whether Menendez’s meeting and interactions with government officials could be considered “official acts” under McDonnell’s new, narrower definition of bribery.