Closing arguments set to begin at bribery trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez

NEW YORK (AP) — Closing arguments are set to begin Monday at the bribery trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez.

The closings were scheduled to start in the afternoon as the trial enters its ninth week in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors planned their initial closing to last about five hours so it was unlikely they would get more than half through it before the jury is sent home for the day.

Prosecutors are expected to tie together the evidence they’ve presented against the Democrat to support their claim that gold bars, over $480,000 in cash and a luxury car found during a 2022 FBI raid on Menendez’s residence are the proceeds of bribes paid by three New Jersey businessmen.

In addition to testimony from several dozen witnesses, prosecutors introduced hundreds of documents, emails, text messages, phone records and other factual evidence.

In return for bribes, prosecutors say, the senator took actions from 2018 to 2022 to protect or enhance the business interests of the businessmen. They say some of the crimes occurred while Menendez held the powerful post of chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

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