The federal bribery trial against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, is in its final days.
The defense team for Menendez wrapped up closing arguments earlier on Wednesday, taking its last shots at the allegations that the senator engaged in corrupt behavior. The U.S. Justice Department left holes in its case and failed to provide evidence that would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the senator participated in a quid pro quo, Menendez’ defense team told the jury.
Attorney Adam Fee told the jury that a victory for Menendez was a victory for the country. Fee spent the morning picking apart the prosecution’s evidence, arguing that its case is “hollow, mostly circumstantial and full of gaps.” After Menendez’s team finished final arguments, attorneys for co-defendant Will Hana and Fred Daibes took their turns to offer a closing argument. Their teams said there’s no evidence of corrupt intent and that the government’s case is pure speculation.
On Thursday, the court is expected to hear witness rebuttal from the government and then the judge would inform the jury of the law and directions on how to consider the evidence. The jury then begins deliberations.
