A New York jury began deliberations in the federal corruption trial of New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez on Friday afternoon.
The jurors deliberated for about three hours before being sent home for the weekend and are expected to continue on Monday.
Four days of closing arguments wrapped up on Thursday. The trial is in its ninth week.
Menendez is facing 16 charges, including bribery, extortion and public official acting as a foreign agent.
He is being tried alongside two New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. All three pleaded not guilty.
One person at the center of the alleged scheme has not gone to trial yet. The senator's wife, Nadine Menendez, was also charged in the case but her trial was delayed until August due to health problems. Robert Menendez announced that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, right as his trial was beginning.
The senator is accused of using his political power to gain lavish gifts, including cash, gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, furniture and payments on a home mortgage.
"It wasn't enough for him to be one of the most powerful people in Washington," U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni said in his closing argument. "He also wanted to pile up riches for himself and his wife."
The defense argued that Robert Menendez did not know that his wife was having financial troubles and making deals with businessmen involved in the alleged scheme.
"Bob had no idea Nadine was getting help with her mortgage and car payments. Nadine wanted to get back to a comfortable life. She portrayed her life as rosy, that's the thing with Instagram," Fee said.
Prosecutors called more than two dozen witnesses while the defense called five. One of witness called by the defense was Robert Menendez's sister Caridad Gonzalez, who claimed that the large amounts of cash found during a raid on the senator's home was a "Cuban thing."
"They were afraid of losing what they worked so hard for because, in Cuba, they took everything away from you," Gonzalez said.
The senator chose not to take the stand, claiming the prosecution failed to prove the case against him.
The jury's decision in the case could factor into Robert Menendez's re-election campaign. The senator is running as an independent for the first time since being elected in 2006. He will face off against Democratic nominee Rep. Andy Kim and Republican nominee and entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw in November.
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About the writer
Jenna Sundel is a Newsweek reporter based in New Jersey. Her focus is reporting on breaking news. Jenna joined Newsweek ... Read more
