NEW YORK (Reuters) – The heart of the bribery case against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez could collapse mid-trial on Monday, after the judge overseeing the trial suggested he might throw out the most serious charges in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting the definition of corruption.
Judge William Walls, of federal court in Newark, New Jersey, is expected on Monday to rule on the defense’s motion to dismiss, five days after U.S. prosecutors rested their case against Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat.
Walls expressed serious doubts at that time that the evidence was sufficient, citing last year’s Supreme Court decision vacating the corruption conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.
Prosecutors have accused Menendez, 63, of taking bribes from Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen in exchange for using his office to help the doctor in a variety of ways. Both men deny wrongdoing and say Melgen was acting out of friendship.