In Menendez Trial Week Ends Without Verdict so Bob Cites Faith in God and the Jury
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by Matthew Russell Lee
SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 12 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian. This scoop was true.
Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar...
On April 11, 2024 after Nadine Menendez and then the government asked for delay, to July or undefined, Judge Stein severed her case and reaffirmed May 6, Inner City Press thread
On Sunday night April 14 the US wrote in again asking for a delay to July, six page letter on Patreon here.
But Judge Stein told the parties to confer and report by April 16 at 1 pm. Then he set an April 17 conference, which Inner City Press live tweeted and dubbed "Berate-gate," thread
On May 13, jury selection began - but did not finish. Abit later, Menendez got into an car with FOP NJ plates.
On May 14 jury selection continued but was not yet completed, from the ending, thread
Late on May 14, the US Attorney's Office filed opposition to slides the defense wants to use in its opening arguments, including quotes from Colin Powell and MLK, and when Nadine came into possession of gold - full letter on Patreon here
Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection and then opening arguments here, then filmed Bob's exit (he said he thought it went well and that his guy did great).
On May 21, the US Attorney's Office put on Wael Hana's lawyer, then a US State Department official working on Congressional approval (or holds) on arms transfer to Egypt, thread here.
On May 23, with the trial in haitus, docketed was Menendez' lawyers opposition to quashing his subpoena for Jose Uribe's attorney proffer and communications with SDNY prosecutors, filing on Patreon here
On May 29, Inner City Press live tweeted, omitting Morton's steakhouse but including this
On May 30, Menendez's lawyer's (long) cross, including this.
On May 31, starting 1 pm, the agent was cross examined, and then USDA Ted McKinney on direct, thread
After the trial day, Inner City Press filed Menendez' walk to his Jersey-plated car; asked why he called McKinney he said, Wait for the cross [examination].
Nadine Menendez hired a new lawyer, who previously represented Sydney Powell among others. Then this: "ORDER as to Nadine Menendez: At the request of the defendant and with the consent of the government [Doc. No. 434], the status conference is adjourned from June 10 to June 12 at 5 :00 p.m.(Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 6/3/2024)."
On June 4 Judge Stein dockted a partially redacted Order in which he denied Menendez's request that the prosecutors give him impeachment material about a Confidential Human Source they are not going to call as a witness - but Menendez said he will.
On June 5, Inner City Press live tweeted - and afterward asked Menendez a question. Thread.
On June 6, after more cross of Agent Graves, Gurbir Grewal testified, thread
On June 7, after an FBI fingerprint expert, cooperator Jose Uribe, Inner City Press live tweeted, thread
On June 10, Uribe finished his direct examination around 4 pm, then counsel for Hana, not yet Menendez, began cross examination, thread.
On June 11, Uribe was cross examined - though not on the "strip club issue" after which out on Worth Street Menendez decried Uribe's crimes. Thread
On June 12, after the end of Uribe (including drunk driving and the "little bell"), US Attorney of NJ Sellinger took the stand, thread.
On June 13, trial day - and next day - was canceled by Daibes calling in with COVID: thread.
And then, book: GOLD BAR BAR Menendez Trial I, on Amazon here.
On June 18, after Daibes' COVID, things resumed with Sellinger, followed by Matt Soliman.
On June 20, alongside an FBI agent summary witness, a prosecution office witness out of order, thread.
On June 24, Menendez's staffer Sarah Arkin took the stand, from the thread
On June 25, Sarah Arkin finished up, including about upcoming job at State Department. Then, a currency (and money laundering) expert from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. From the thread
On June 26, there testimony about currency, and then a jocular Armenian jeweler, from the thread
On June 27, the Senate Ethics Committee director, then a cell site expert, from the thread
On June 28, the last US witness, on Menendez's M&T account, and gold in Nadine's Chase Bank safety deposit box, thread
On July 1 the defense case began, his and Nadine's sisters amid a flurry of motions, thread
On July 2, at 5 instead of 4 pm, rapid rulings on exhibits to set up Menendez's defense resting on Friday, thread
On July 3, Team Menendez rested (then outside court Menendez said the US had not proved its case so he didn't testify), thread
On July 8, after a Hana witness and charge conference, half of the prosecutors' closing, thread
On July 9, the rest of the prosecution's summation, then Menendez's lawyer Adam Fee, not yet finishing (and Menendez silent on his way to his car), from the thread
On July 10, more of Menendez's closing, then all of Hana's, and the first part of Daibes - then on the sidewalk, Menendez himself spoke of the government's "lies" - thread
On July 11, Daibes' lawyer then a lengthy rebuttal, some instructions - thread
On July 12, Judge Stein finished his legal instruction, then the jury deliberated from 2 to 5 pm, no verdict. Afterward Menendez on the sidewalk said, "I have faith in God and in the jury." Thread:
Judge Stein: The defendant named in Counts 5 and 11 is simply Senator Menendez, no one out. You can go through the verdict sheet in any order you want, it's entirely up to you. Judge Stein: Giving a gift to a public official to gain good will is not Federal bribery - there has to be a quid pro quo... But, the simple offer of giving can be just as much a crime as the actual giving. The payment need not be directly to the public official During a pause
AUSA Richenthal: I notice that people are not being allowed [back] into the courtroom. Judge: It's so the jurors can focus on the charge. But I'll change it right now - I'll tell the CSOs people can come and go as they please
Judge Stein: Jurors, if you want additional information, sent a note, as specific as you can. But if you ask for three days of testimony, it might take three days. You have that right. We have a computer that's been loaded with the exhibits Judge Stein: It's my practice to name Juror 1 the foreperson, unless you don't want to do it. At the end, you put the verdict sheet in an envelope and pass it out. We'll assemble everyone in open court, it's a formal proceeding. I am not excusing the 5 alternates Judge Stein: Enjoy your lunch and don't deliberate over it. You'll start that at 2 pm [jurors exit to jury room]
AUSA Richenthal: You did not say that Dutchess County is in SDNY. But I don't think anything happened there. Judge Stein: I learned about the waterways [Verrazano Bridge is in SDNY, he said - who knew] Judge Stein: I'll see everyone in an hour.
They're back. Jury entering! Judge: Marshal, please come forward to be sworn... Ladies and gentlemen, now I'm directing you to begin deliberating. The Marshal will hand you a copy of the verdict sheet. We're here as long as you want - if you want to stay past 5 Judge: Send a note if you want to stay past 5. If not I'll bring you in and send you home for the weekend, not to read any publicity, and return Monday. [12 jurors "retire" to jury room]
Judge: Alternates, you have been here 9 weeks Judge: You may be called back to replace - it happened this morning in another trial [story with extra: Guo Trial Juror Googled William Je Then Removed in Sealed Proceeding
Judge: The lawyers should stay close. [Book Stories w/ extras, like on X for Subscribers: w/ documents: Thread will continue
Judge Stein: It's 5 pm now. We have given them a wire to hook up the laptop. But I am going to have them come in and let them go for the weekend. Jury entering! Judge Stein: I understand you can't stay. So, you may leave for the weekend. Don't view any social media about the case. We'll see you on Monday. Jury exits. Judge: Enjoy the weekend. I'll see everyone Monday.
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