Judge rejects Menendez's requests to drop charges
A federal judge ruled again against Sen. Robert Menendez on Thursday in the New Jersey Democrat's corruption trial, denying all of his remaining motions to dismiss the charges.
A federal judge ruled again against Sen. Robert Menendez on Thursday in the New Jersey Democrat's corruption trial, denying all of his remaining motions to dismiss the charges.
The decisions by U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark, N.J., were not surprising. In late September, he cast aside the most ambitious of the 15 motions from Menendez and codefendant Salomon Melgen.
The defense plans to appeal the rulings.
Federal prosecutors have charged the pair with bribery, conspiracy, and other counts, alleging that Melgen, a South Florida eye doctor, gave the senator lavish gifts and campaign donations in exchange for official help.
Menendez and Melgen say they are not guilty.
The motions decided Thursday include their contention that the charges are too vague - that prosecutors failed to describe any explicit arrangement between the two, instead relying on the timing of the donations and some of the senator's actions.
Walls wrote that the charges were sufficient under the "stream of benefits doctrine," in which gifts flow to a public official in exchange for help as it is needed.
"The indictment alleges numerous specific official acts, and the timing of these acts in relation to the alleged bribes is clear from the face of the indictment," Walls wrote.
Several other motions were also denied.
In September, Walls dismissed four of the bribery counts against Menendez and Melgen, but nearly all of the original charges still stand.
The trial is expected to begin next year.
@JonathanTamari