Top Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer declined to comment on Senator Bob Menendez's corruption trial or plans to expel him from Congress, on Wednesday as the New Jersey lawmaker's defense team pointed the finger at his wife, claiming that any alleged bribe recieved by the pair was done without his knowledge.
"He's on trial so I'm not going to comment," Schumer said in response to questions about expulsion.
McConnell also kept his comments limited, only saying "I'm really glad he's not a Republican."
Prosecutors allege that Menendez, 70, conspired with the Egyptian government and a group of New Jersey businessmen, to enrich all involved parties while also increasing Cairo's influence in Washington, D.C. The senator remains in office, even though many officials - most vocally Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman - have called on him to step down.
Documents that were made public after a group of media organizations petitioned Judge Sidney H. Stein indicate that Bob Menendez's legal strategy may depend on delineating his actions from those of his wife, Nadine.
"These explanations, and the marital communications on which they rely, will tend to exonerate Senator Menendez by demonstrating the absence of any improper intent on Senator Menendez's part," the court filings read.
"They may inculpate Nadine by demonstrating the ways in which she withheld information from Senator Menendez or otherwise led him to believe that nothing unlawful was taking place."
This is not Menendez's first brush with legal trouble. In 2015, he was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and making false statements. The case ended in a mistrial and all charges were dropped, however, the Senate Ethics Committee "severely admonished" Menendez for his actions. It was not until 2018 that Menendez began his relationship with Nadine.
