Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife will have separate bribery trials, judge rules

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife will be tried separately on allegations that they participated in a bribery scheme, a federal judge ruled Thursday after Nadine Menendez’s lawyers argued that she requires treatment for a serious medical condition.

The New Jersey Democrat’s trial will remain scheduled for May 6 in Manhattan federal court, while Nadine Menendez’s trial was tentatively pushed back to July 8.

“This trial is going forward without Mrs. Menendez” in order to “give some stability and certainty to all parties,” Judge Sidney Stein said. “The government is going to have to try this case two times.”

Nadine Menendez’s lawyers argued for the move in a letter to Stein this week, saying she was recently diagnosed with an unspecified condition that will require surgery in the next four to six weeks. In court on Thursday, they said she needs more time to undergo testing to understand the nature of the condition.

A lawyer for the senator urged the judge not to hold up his client’s day in court over the issue, saying the allegations are a “specter” hanging over the former chair of the powerful Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that “effectively removes his ability to run” for reelection this year.

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