Bribery trial of Nadine Menendez reaches closing arguments: 'Partner in crime'

Prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered closing arguments in the modern day in the bribery trial of Nadine Menendez wife of former Sen Bob Menendez D-M J who is accused of helping broker deals that sold the senator s influence in exchange for gold bars envelopes of cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible The former senator who was not present and was sentenced in a separate trial to years in prison on bribery acting as a foreign agent and obstruction charges was repeatedly referenced during the establishment s summation Nadine Menendez who faces similar charges sat quietly in the courtroom between her two attorneys wearing a pink face mask Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni delivered the ruling body s closing argument over several hours calling Bob Menendez his wife s partner in crime He walked the jury through all charges against Nadine Menendez alleging that she acted as a broker selling her husband s political power in a series of schemes PROSECUTORS AGREE TO POSTPONE NADINE MENENDEZ'S TRIAL AFTER LAWYERS ANNOUNCED SHE HAS A 'SERIOUS HEALTHCARE CONDITION'Prosecutors commented the misconduct included helping a New Jersey-based Halal certifier pursue a monopoly interfering in a state-level criminal development and ghostwriting a letter for the Egyptian authorities to help maintain U S aid In return Monteleoni explained jurors Nadine Menendez received envelopes of cash -kilogram gold bars a high-paying job and a luxury convertible She did it so she could get a convertible Monteleoni declared In closing he added The defendant is guilty on every count SEN MENENDEZ CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN ANOTHER SUPERSEDING INDICTMENTBarry Coburn representing the defense argued that the ruling body had applied overly broad definitions of official acts and quid pro quo He claimed largest part of what was alleged involved routine political behavior Menendez must and should not be unveiled guilty of any of them Coburn recounted the jury He specifically pushed back on the claim that a meeting between former Sen Menendez and New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal amounted to an official act These things are unproven in this episode Coburn stated adding The rule of law mandates acquittal on those counts The defense also questioned the credibility of Jose Uribe a cooperating ruling body witness saying much of his testimony lacked corroboration Coburn pointed to a dinner where Uribe claimed the former senator explained him I saved your ass not once but twice Coburn argued that such statements were unverified and unreliable CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPJudge Sidney H Stein is scheduled to deliver jury instructions on Friday morning at a m after which deliberations will begin