According to a recently unsealed court document, Senator Bob Menendez may potentially place the blame on his wife when he faces trial next month on political corruption charges. This information was made public after various news organizations, including ABC News, fought for its release.
The potential line of defense was filed in secrecy earlier this year, as the judge granted the request to try Menendez and his wife separately due to Nadine Menendez’s undisclosed medical condition. The trial for the senator is set to commence on May 6 in a federal court in Manhattan.
Defense attorneys have suggested that Menendez may choose to testify and potentially implicate his wife by claiming that he was unaware of her alleged illegal activities and that she kept information from him.
The filing stated that these explanations and the marital communications they rely on have the potential to clear Senator Menendez by showing that there was no intention on his part to engage in any improper activities. However, they might implicate Nadine by revealing how she withheld information from Senator Menendez or misled him into believing that nothing illegal was happening.
Menendez allegedly received cash, gold bars, and various benefits from businessmen in New Jersey. In return, he is accused of providing official favors to benefit both the businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Despite these allegations, Menendez maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty.
Last month, the senator made the decision not to seek re-election for a fourth term as a Democrat in the upcoming fall.