Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) arrives at a federal courthouse for his bribery trial in connection with corruption allegations against three New Jersey businessmen, in New York City, USA, June 11, 2024.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
Defense lawyers in the federal corruption trial of Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey on Tuesday scrutinized the credibility of a star witness who testified about bribing the congressman in question and his wife.
The witness, Jose Uribe, was one of three New Jersey businessmen originally charged in the case, along with Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez.
Uribe changed his tune in early March, pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors to avoid a prison sentence for a crime that carried a maximum sentence of 95 years in prison.
his Direct testimony During a witness stand in New York federal court, Uribe said that in 2019 he traded influence with Senator Menendez to buy a Mercedes-Benz convertible for Menendez’s then-girlfriend, Nadine.
Prosecutors accuse Menendez of trying to interfere in a New Jersey criminal investigation into Uribe’s associates.
“That was my promise to her to ensure she got the car and kept her contract,” Uribe testified Monday.
During cross-examination Tuesday, lawyers for Menendez’s co-defendant, Wael Hana, sought to undermine Uribe’s testimony, according to NBC News.
“Is it fair to lie to get out of trouble when you get in trouble?” his lawyer, Ricardo Solano, asked Uribe.
“I have lied in the past,” Uribe replied, adding that he had taken “the necessary steps to protect my family.”
Solano pressed further: “Does that include lying?”
Uribe said that was true. “I have done it in the past to protect my family,” he said.
Uribe pleaded guilty March 1 to seven charges, including bribery conspiracy, honest services fraud and obstruction of justice.
The 70-year-old U.S. senator and his wife are accused of illegally accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cash, gold bars and other gifts in exchange for official services.
Menendez, Hanna and another New Jersey businessman, Fred Dibes, are on trial together in federal court in lower Manhattan. Nadine Menendez’s trial was postponed until July for health reasons. The senator revealed during the trial that his wife has breast cancer.
Menendez’s defense team is trying to blame Nadine Menendez for “alienating” him over money issues, with her lawyer, Avi Weitzman, noting in his opening statement that the gold bars were found in “Nadine’s closet.”
Menendez has been criticized by his Democratic colleagues. Re-election as an Independent candidate.
