Arslanian Menendez denied postponement of trial
By: Kristie Cattafi
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A judge has denied another postponement of the federal corruption and bribery trial for the wife of convicted former Senator Bob Menendez.
......
Nadine Arslanian Menendez faces bribery and corruption charges similar to those of which her husband and three New jersey businessmen were found guilty in July. [2024]
..... Arslanian Menendez, who was to be tried alongside her husband, saw her trial postponed because of a medical condition, later revealed by her husband as breast cancer.
.....
Her attorney made a motion last month [11/2024] requesting that her trial be postponed again,due to a time conflict with one of her attorney's other clients, who faces charges in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
..... Judge Sidney Stein told both the United States prospectus from New York's Southern District and Arslanian Menendez's attorneys to keep January and February [2025] of the new year clear for a trial date. The trial was later scheduled to begin January 21. [2025]
..... Barry Coburn, Arslanian Menendez's attorney, is also representing "a number of indigent, indicted defendants charged with offenses relating to the events of January 6, 2021, at the United States Capitol pending in the United States District court for the District of Columbia."
..... One of Coburn's clients is Nathaniel Noyce, who has a trail day set on March 17, 2025, after an eight-count indictment.
..... Coburn said the march [2025] date was set before Arslanina Menendez's trial date and has notified the judge in that case, court documents show.
..... Stein denied the request on December 9 [2024] and said Arslanian Menendez's trial will begin at 9"30 A<. on Tuesday January 21. [2025]
What are the charges against Arislanina Menedez?
...... Arlanian Menendez was charged along with Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe and was initially scheduled to appear beside her husband, but a breast cancer diagnosis led to her trial's postponement.
.....
Hana and Daibes were also found guilty during the trial. Uribe was charged alongside both Menendezes but entered a guilty plea after making a deal with federal prosecutors.
..... Arslanian Menendez faces 15 of the 18 charges of her co-defendants, who all received guilty verdicts after the trial.
..... She was initially supposed to be tried with her co-defendants, even after asking that the trials be severed.
..... During the nine-week trial, Menendez's attorneys blamed Arslanian Menendez, but federal prosecutor Lara Pomerantz told jurors that Menendez used his wife as a go-between for the schemes and business dealings that resulted in their receiving cash and gold bars.
..... Based on Menendez's trial, Coburn doesn't believe that if Arslanian Menendez's trial begins on January 21, [2025] it will conclude before March 17. [2025]
..... Coburn also believes that the trial will be longer due to "breaks needed for Ms. Menendez' ongoing medical condition, the details of which have been proffered to the Court under seal."
.....
Arslanian Menendez's doctor submitted court documents on whether she is fit to stand trial.
..... "While there is no physical impairment to her being able to appear, [redactions]," Dr. Stephanie Cohen wrote in a letter to the court.
..... I can say in my experience that most women cannot focus on non-breast related issues in their lives until the completions procedures is finished and most will delay even minor events such as vacations, celebrations, even jog changes until it is done ..."
.....
During his trial, Menendez announced that his wife was suffering from Stage 3 breast cancer.
..... Arslanina Menendez hid financial challenges from her husband before the met and during their time together, Menendez's lawyer, Avi Weitzman, said in his opening remarks - less than 24 hours before Menendez announced his wife's medical diagnosis.
..... Weitzman also pointed out that the now-infamous gold bars were found in Arslania Menendez's locked closet, not Menendez's
..... "Whenever you see a document that says Nadine or Hana or Daibes, ask yourself, 'where;s Bob?'" Weitzman said.
Menendez, Hana and Daibes seek new trials
..... Menendez, Hana and Daibes made motions last month [11/2024] for a new trail after it was discovered that the jury may have viewed evidence that was supposed to be redacted.
..... Nine pieces of evidence that jurors sued while deliberating displaced material that should have been redacted, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan said in court documents filed earlier this month. [12/2024]
..... The prosecutors said defense lawyers did not notice the mistake, either, and that the material likely did not affect the verdict.
..... Menendez was found guilty in July [2024] on 16 felony charges.
..... The former new Jersey senator, who resigned in August, [2024] was convicted after a nine-week trail in which he and three co-defendants faced indictments in a federal corruption and bribery case brought by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.
..... It was the second time in six years that Menendez faced bribery charges.
..... Stein has not made a decision on the motions yet, and more court documents related to the motions are scheduled to be filed this week. [12/09-13/2024]