SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 16 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian. This scoop was true.
Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar...
On April 11, 2024 after Nadine Menendez and then the government asked for delay, to July or undefined, Judge Stein severed her case and reaffirmed May 6, Inner City Press thread
On Sunday night April 14 the US wrote in again asking for a delay to July, six page letter on Patreon here.
But Judge Stein told the parties to confer and report by April 16 at 1 pm. Then he set an April 17 conference, which Inner City Press live tweeted and dubbed "Berate-gate," thread
On May 13, jury selection began - but did not finish. Abit later, Menendez got into an car with FOP NJ plates.
On May 14 jury selection continued but was not yet completed, from the ending, thread
Late on May 14, the US Attorney's Office filed opposition to slides the defense wants to use in its opening arguments, including quotes from Colin Powell and MLK, and when Nadine came into possession of gold - full letter on Patreon here
Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection and then opening arguments here, then filmed Bob's exit (he said he thought it went well and that his guy did great).
On May 21, the US Attorney's Office put on Wael Hana's lawyer, then a US State Department official working on Congressional approval (or holds) on arms transfer to Egypt, thread here.
On May 23, with the trial in haitus, docketed was Menendez' lawyers opposition to quashing his subpoena for Jose Uribe's attorney proffer and communications with SDNY prosecutors, filing on Patreon here
On May 29, Inner City Press live tweeted, omitting Morton's steakhouse but including this
On May 30, Menendez's lawyer's (long) cross, including this.
On May 31, starting 1 pm, the agent was cross examined, and then USDA Ted McKinney on direct, thread
After the trial day, Inner City Press filed Menendez' walk to his Jersey-plated car; asked why he called McKinney he said, Wait for the cross [examination].
Nadine Menendez hired a new lawyer, who previously represented Sydney Powell among others. Then this: "ORDER as to Nadine Menendez: At the request of the defendant and with the consent of the government [Doc. No. 434], the status conference is adjourned from June 10 to June 12 at 5 :00 p.m.(Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 6/3/2024)."
On June 4 Judge Stein dockted a partially redacted Order in which he denied Menendez's request that the prosecutors give him impeachment material about a Confidential Human Source they are not going to call as a witness - but Menendez said he will.
On June 5, Inner City Press live tweeted - and afterward asked Menendez a question. Thread.
On June 6, after more cross of Agent Graves, Gurbir Grewal testified, thread
On June 7, after an FBI fingerprint expert, cooperator Jose Uribe, Inner City Press live tweeted, thread
On June 10, Uribe finished his direct examination around 4 pm, then counsel for Hana, not yet Menendez, began cross examination, thread.
On June 11, Uribe was cross examined - though not on the "strip club issue" after which out on Worth Street Menendez decried Uribe's crimes. Thread
On June 12, after the end of Uribe (including drunk driving and the "little bell"), US Attorney of NJ Sellinger took the stand, thread.
On June 13, trial day - and next day - was canceled by Daibes calling in with COVID: thread.
And then, book: GOLD BAR BAR Menendez Trial I, on Amazon here.
On June 18, after Daibes' COVID, things resumed with Sellinger, followed by Matt Soliman.
On June 20, alongside an FBI agent summary witness, a prosecution office witness out of order, thread.
On June 24, Menendez's staffer Sarah Arkin took the stand, from the thread
On June 25, Sarah Arkin finished up, including about upcoming job at State Department. Then, a currency (and money laundering) expert from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. From the thread
On June 26, there testimony about currency, and then a jocular Armenian jeweler, from the thread
On June 27, the Senate Ethics Committee director, then a cell site expert, from the thread
On June 28, the last US witness, on Menendez's M&T account, and gold in Nadine's Chase Bank safety deposit box, thread
On July 1 the defense case began, his and Nadine's sisters amid a flurry of motions, thread
On July 2, at 5 instead of 4 pm, rapid rulings on exhibits to set up Menendez's defense resting on Friday, thread
On July 3, Team Menendez rested (then outside court Menendez said the US had not proved its case so he didn't testify), thread
On July 8, after a Hana witness and charge conference, half of the prosecutors' closing, thread
On July 9, the rest of the prosecution's summation, then Menendez's lawyer Adam Fee, not yet finishing (and Menendez silent on his way to his car), from the thread
On July 10, more of Menendez's closing, then all of Hana's, and the first part of Daibes - then on the sidewalk, Menendez himself spoke of the government's "lies" - thread
On July 11, Daibes' lawyer then a lengthy rebuttal, some instructions - thread
On July 12, Judge Stein finished his legal instruction, then the jury deliberated from 2 to 5 pm, no verdict. Afterward Menendez on the sidewalk said, "I have faith in God and in the jury." Thread
On July 15, the jury sent out questions about unanimity and about the Qatar and Daibes counts, but did not reach a verdict by 5 pm. On his way to his car Menendez said in Spanish that hte jurors not see things are not so simple. Thread
On July 16, just after noon, the verdicts: all guilty. Afterward Inner City Press live streamed Menendez's vow to appeal. Now Gold Bar Bob Is Guilty book coming. Thread:
As the lawyers and defendants take their places in the courtroom, Bob Menendez is leaning back in his chair, resting his arms on the chair's arms.
All rise! Judge Sidney H. Stein: Please be seated in the court room. We have a note from 12:33 pm, We have a verdict. I want no outbursts of any sort. The quiet should reflect the solemnity of the occasion. Jury entering! [Jurors file in]
Judge Stein: You may be seated in the courtroom... Foreperson, as the jury reached a verdict?
Foreperson: We have, your Honor. Judge: I will inspect it for regularity.
Foreperson: Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Released on bond. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Released on bond. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Released on bond. Foreperson: Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Released on bond. Guilty. Guilty. [Actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar: Count 13].
Released on bond. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Judge Stein: Please be seated [As jury is polled and confirms guilty verdicts, now Bob Menendez rest his head in his hand, looking over at the jurors.]
Judge Stein: Deputy, I direct you to file and record the verdict. Jurors, you followed the testimony closely. We projected six to seven weeks and we've done nine weeks. You are discharged with the appreciation of the court. [Jurors leave.]
Judge Stein: I have chosen for sentencing October 29 - 2 pm for Mr. Hana, 2:45 for Mr. Daibes and 3:30 pm for Mr. Menendez.
AUSA Richenthal: On Mr. Hana, we are for home incarceration. And $237,000 in one kilogram gold bars, and luxury watches. GX 3K-2 Hana's lawyer Lustberg: Mr. Hana came back from Egypt, he's been on GPS monitoring.
Judge: What is the current curfew? Lustberg: 8 am to 9 pm. Judge: So it's really the reverse, in from 9 pm to 8 am. Do you have his passports? Lustberg: Only a US passport Menendez's lawyer Fee: We are going to reserve under Rule 29 and 33. Hana's lawyer Lustberg: We request 30 days not 14 days.
Judge Stein: I'll extend it to August 19. It was very well tried. Judge Stein: Thank you. Adjourned.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is US v. Menendez, et al., 23-cr-490 (Stein)
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