Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing on bribery and related charges, citing concerns about the emotional strain it would place on his family during his wife Nadine Menendez’s upcoming trial.
Menendez Cites Emotional Toll on Family
In a letter to Judge Sidney H. Stein, Menendez’s legal team argued that holding his sentencing on its scheduled date, January 29, could unfairly influence his wife’s trial, which begins just eight days earlier on January 21.
“The current timeline poses an unnecessary and overwhelming risk of poisoning the proceedings against Nadine,” the letter stated. His lawyers proposed delaying the sentencing until after the conclusion of Nadine Menendez’s trial, which may extend into March.
Bob Menendez, 70, resigned from the Senate after his conviction in July on 16 charges, including bribery, extortion, and obstruction of justice. He has appealed the verdict, citing prosecutorial errors during his trial.
Wife’s Trial and Health Challenges
Nadine Menendez, who faces similar charges, had her trial postponed earlier due to breast cancer surgery. She now prepares to face evidence presented against her and her husband in Manhattan federal court.
Barry Coburn, Nadine Menendez’s attorney, also urged the judge to avoid scheduling her husband’s sentencing before her trial. He expressed concerns about the psychological impact, saying it could hinder her ability to participate meaningfully in her defense.
Prosecutors’ Allegations and Evidence
The charges stem from allegations that the couple accepted nearly $150,000 in gold bars, $480,000 in cash, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible over four years in exchange for favors from the senator to three New Jersey businessmen.
Prosecutors uncovered the valuables during a 2022 FBI raid at the couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Two of the businessmen were convicted alongside Menendez, while the third pleaded guilty and testified during the trial.
Legal and Personal Challenges for Menendez
Menendez, once the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, resigned his position following the charges in fall 2023. His legal team argued that sentencing him during his wife’s trial would exacerbate the emotional and physical toll on his family, especially given her ongoing battle with a life-threatening illness.
“To ask him to face sentencing during the criminal trial of his wife, who is also in the midst of an ongoing battle against a life-threatening disease, is too much to ask of any man,” his lawyers wrote.
What’s Next?
Judge Stein has yet to rule on the request to reschedule Menendez’s sentencing. Prosecutors have not commented on the matter but previously suggested holding the sentencing immediately before Nadine Menendez’s trial.
