Bob Menendez Blames Wife for Gold Seizure in Bribery Case
- New Jersey Democrat accused of corruptly helping businessmen
- Senator vows to beat second corruption rap, run as independent
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The corruption trial of Senator Bob Menendez began with his lawyer saying the New Jersey Democrat committed no crimes and blaming the politician’s wife for gold bars seized at their home by FBI agents, who also found $480,000 in cash that prosecutors branded as bribes.
Defense attorney Avi Weitzman told jurors Wednesday in New York that the cash seized by agents wasn’t the result of bribes but money that the senator had withdrawn over 30 years in $400 to $500 intervals. The lawyer sought to rebut prosecutor claims that Menendez took cash, gold bars and a luxury car from two businessmen to perform favors for them.