The bribery trial of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has been rescheduled to begin on May 13, a week later than originally planned. This decision was made during a pretrial hearing in Manhattan, where U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein approved the delay to allow for additional time for trial preparation.
Sen. Menendez, along with two New Jersey businessmen, has pleaded not guilty to charges of receiving cash, gold bars, and a luxury car in exchange for political favors. The trial will also involve Menendez's wife, Nadine, who faces medical issues and is set to go on trial in July at the earliest.
One of the businessmen involved, Jose Uribe, has already pleaded guilty to bribery charges and is expected to testify against the others during the trial.
The legal proceedings have had significant implications for Menendez, who was forced to relinquish his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee following the criminal case last fall.
Menendez's defense team has hinted at a potential defense strategy centered around the argument that the senator lacked criminal intent, citing his lack of knowledge about any illegal activities involving his wife and the New Jersey businessmen.
For more updates on Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery trial, you can follow the latest news on the case at AP's coverage of Sen. Bob Menendez.
