Prosecutors urge judge to hear bribery case involving ex-senator's wife • New Jersey Monitor

Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to schedule a hearing in the bribery case against Nadine Menendez, indicating they would welcome a deal.

In a letter As Judge Sidney H. Stein made public Thursday, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said a trial for Nadine Menendez would be similar in length or “only slightly shorter” than the 10-week trial her husband and co-defendant, former Senator Bob Menendez, endured earlier this year. Her trial had been postponed indefinitely to allow for her medical treatment for breast cancer.

In the heavily redacted letter, Williams asked Stein to set a hearing date of Dec. 9 and avoid a delay under a federal law that guarantees defendants in criminal cases the right to a speedy trial.

That hearing would give defense attorneys the opportunity to “review the extensive evidence in this complex case and engage in discussions with the government regarding a possible resolution of this matter,” Williams wrote.

If the case goes to trial, prosecutors could present evidence of “her conscience,” he warned. He did not specify what evidence that might be, but noted that it was not presented in the senator's case.

Nadine Menendez is accused of 15 federal crimes in a six-year corruption scheme that involved her husband and three business partners Convictions for serious crimes in the last month.

Prosecutors have said She began interfering in her husband’s political activities just weeks after they began dating in 2018 and became Intermediary To connect Bob Menendez to the men who gave them cash, gold bars, a luxury car and other valuables in exchange for political favors. Bob Menendez's defense team blamed his wife for his troubles and said that she had taken money and done business without his knowledge.

On Tuesday, one day before his resignation from the Senate, Menendez and his co-defendants Wael Hana and Fred Daibes asked Stein to retract their beliefs.