Sen. Robert Menendez bribery trial: Opening statements expected in corruption case

• Prosecutors and defense attorneys are poised to select a full jury and deliver opening statements in the federal bribery trial in New York of Sen. Robert Menendez.
• Judge Sidney Stein sketched out that timeline after the first two days of the trial of the New Jersey Democrat and two businessmen from the state, Wael Hanna and Fred Daibes.
• Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are charged in U.S. District Court in Manhattan with taking hundreds of thousands dollars worth of bribes — including bags of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible — in exchange for official acts.
• Nadine Menendez will be tried separately because of health issues.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are poised Wednesday to select a full jury and deliver opening statements in the federal bribery trial of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

Judge Sidney Stein sketched out that timeline Tuesday afternoon after two plodding days in court passed without a single juror being seated for the trial of the Democratic lawmaker and two New Jersey businessmen in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Stein said he expects the jury box to be filled by mid-morning Wednesday "at the latest."

Prosecutors will begin their opening statements shortly afterward "if all goes to plan," the judge said.

Menendez, 70, and his wife Nadine Menendez are charged in the case with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes — including bags of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible — in exchange for official acts by the senator.

Menendez, who until the indictment served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife are accused of using his political power to try to enrich three businessmen and benefit the governments of Egypt and