A federal judge has denied a request to postpone the sentencing of former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), which is set to proceed next month, even as his wife, Nadine Menendez, awaits her trial on related charges.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein ruled against delaying Menendez’s January 29 sentencing but agreed to reschedule Nadine’s trial to February, addressing concerns raised by the couple.
Menendez had sought a change in his sentencing date to avoid influencing the jury selection for his wife’s case. In a separate filing, Nadine Menendez’s lawyer suggested the sentencing should occur either before or after her trial, rather than during.
Barry Coburn, Nadine’s attorney, argued that while Bob Menendez’s trial was months ago, the sentencing could create a surge of media attention that might prejudice potential jurors. “The sentencing of a former United States Senator would spark intense publicity, likely becoming a recent memory for nearly every prospective juror,” Coburn wrote.
In July, Menendez was found guilty on 16 counts of corruption, including allegations of accepting extravagant bribes from three New Jersey businessmen and serving as an unregistered agent for Egypt. Two of the businessmen were also convicted, while the third admitted guilt prior to trial.
Nadine Menendez’s trial is now set to begin on February 5, following previous delays linked to her breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. She has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against her. Initially, her trial had been scheduled for January 21 before the adjustments were made.
