The corruption trial of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is set to begin on Monday, marking a critical moment that could impact the Democrat's reelection bid and influence the balance of power in the Senate next year.
Menendez, 70, along with two New Jersey businessmen, faces charges in a bribery conspiracy case in Manhattan federal court. The trial, expected to last five to eight weeks, also involves Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, who will be tried separately. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Menendez, New Jersey's senior senator, is up for reelection in November. If cleared of charges, he intends to run for a fourth term as an independent. However, recent polls indicate Menendez's unpopularity among New Jersey voters, with many Democratic senators, including Cory Booker of New Jersey, calling for his resignation. Currently, Democrats and independents, who align with them, hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate.
Prosecutors allege that the Menendezes accepted cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator using his political influence in New Jersey and for the benefit of Egypt's and Qatar's governments. Menendez is said to have promised to assist Egypt in obtaining arms sales and other military aid, aided an Egyptian American businessman in securing a monopoly on the certification of halal meat exports to Egypt, and sought millions of dollars from a Qatar-linked investment fund for a New Jersey developer.
Additionally, Menendez and his wife face obstruction of justice charges related to the alleged crimes that occurred between 2018 and 2023. A fifth defendant, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in March and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
Nadine Menendez's trial is scheduled for July 8, following a medical condition that required a lengthy recovery. Documents recently released suggest that Robert Menendez, if he decides to testify, may implicate his wife by revealing marital communications that could exonerate him but potentially incriminate her.
This trial marks Menendez's second corruption trial. In 2017, a mistrial was declared after jurors could not reach a unanimous decision regarding whether Menendez had broken the law by providing assistance to a wealthy ophthalmologist, Salomon Melgen, in exchange for gifts and political contributions.
Menendez, who became a senator in 2006 and had chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stepped down from his chairmanship last September after being indicted. Several other current and former members of Congress, including Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, and former Representative George Santos, a New York Republican, also face federal criminal charges.
Despite New Jersey's Democratic leanings, support for Menendez has waned significantly since his indictment. A March poll by Monmouth University and Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill showed that fewer than one in six voters approved of Menendez's job performance, with even fewer indicating they would vote for him as an independent.
The November elections are expected to be closely contested for several Senate seats currently held by Democrats or independents. The seat held by West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, who is not seeking reelection, is anticipated to shift to Republican control.