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NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday urged a judge to reject Sen. Bob Menendez’s request to delay his bribery trial scheduled for next spring by
two months, until July.

Prosecutors argued against the postponement a week after defense lawyers offered multiple reasons why they say a trial of the New Jersey Democrat
and co-defendants, including his wife, should be delayed.

The senator gave up his position as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after his September arrest, but he is seeking reelection in
2024. The state typically holds its primary in June.

Prosecutors said the original May 6 trial date was appropriate and drew no objections when it was announced even though circumstances were the same.

“The schedule was and remains reasonable, and in accord with the strong
public interest in a speedy trial,” prosecutors wrote.

Defense lawyers cited over 6.7 million documents to be reviewed, an “unprecedented” foreign-agent charge and complex legal questions to be addressed as they asked for a delay of a trial now scheduled for May 6.
They said a two-month adjournment would still bring defendants to trial
within 10 months of their arrests.

Four defendants, including Menendez, have pleaded not guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge that alleges Menendez and his wife accepted bribes of
cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businesspeople who wanted the senator’s help and influence over foreign affairs.

The senator, his wife and a third defendant have also pleaded not guilty
to a charge that they conspired to utilize the senator as an agent of the Egyptian government even though he was prohibited from doing so as a
member of Congress.

In asking for a delay, defense lawyers wrote, “Given the complexity of
this case and the seriousness of the charges at issue, the speed with
which this case is proceeding is extraordinary.”

They said they plan to ask Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan to dismiss
the indictment on multiple grounds, including for constitutional and sufficiency reasons and because New York federal court is the wrong venue.

Prosecutors said in their letter to the judge that the voluminous amount
of evidence turned over to the defense should not delay the trial because
it was consistent with what the government promised at the first
conference in October.

“In short, if there were a right to have multiple months to digest
discovery prior to filing motions, as the defendants appear to suggest, practice in this district would look quite different. The current schedule
set by the Court is expedited, but reasonable,” prosecutors said.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/26/prosecutors-oppose-menendezs- effort-to-delay-bribery-trial-until-july-00133220

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