Friday, May 17, 2024

In Sen Menendez Trial Qatar Depositions Denied as US Cites Senate Resolution

 


by Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 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 16, Judge Stein disallowed Menendez' requested depositions: "OPINION & ORDER as to Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes. I. INTRODUCTION. Defendant Robert Menendez has moved to take the depositions of three individuals pursuant to Rule 15(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Those individuals are: (1) the principal ("Qatari Investor") of the entity described in the Indictment as the "Qatari Investment Company," (2) its Chief Operating Officer (COO), and (3) its General Counsel (GC). CONCLUSION. Menendez has failed to meet his burden to show that exceptional circumstances exist and that it is in the interest of justice to grant his motion to take the depositions of the Qatari Investor, the COO, and the GC in London. Accordingly, Menendez's motion to take Rule 15 depositions is denied. SO ORDERED: (Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 5/16/2024).

More on X of Subscribers here & Substack here

The case is US v. Menendez, et al., 23-cr-490 (Stein)

More on Substack here

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