CNN
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A prime federal prosecutor handed Sen. Bob Menendez a lifeline on the New Jersey Democrat’s corruption trial Tuesday, telling the courtroom throughout cross examination that Menendez by no means requested or pressured him to behave improperly on behalf of a political ally.
Philip Sellinger, now the US legal professional for the District of New Jersey, mentioned that in late 2020, he went to Menendez hoping for the senator’s assist in his bid to be nominated to the publish. Throughout the dialog, Sellinger testified, Menendez talked about that Fred Daibes, a New Jersey actual property developer and co-defendant within the case, “was being handled unfairly” by prosecutors who had indicted him on financial institution fraud fees.
“Sen. Menendez hoped that if I grew to become US legal professional, that I might have a look at (the Daibes case) fastidiously,” Sellinger mentioned.
That testimony got here up once more Tuesday when Menendez legal professional Avi Weitzman pressed Sellinger on the character of that interplay.
“I didn’t consider that (Menendez) was asking me to do something apart from my official obligation,” Sellinger, a longtime pal and political supporter of Menendez, informed the courtroom. “I didn’t consider he was asking me to do something.”
At that, Weitzman requested Sellinger if it was “truthful to say that he didn’t ask you to place your thumb on the scales of justice?”
Sellinger nodded in settlement.
Now in its sixth week, the trial has shifted its focus from allegations that Menendez, alongside along with his spouse, Nadine, accepted bribes from a New Jersey businessman to fees that the senator was a part of a corrupt deal involving Daibes and the federal government of Qatar.
The trial resumed Tuesday following a three-day delay after Daibes examined optimistic for Covid-19 final week.
The Menendezes, Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana are accused of engineering a complex and multifaceted bribery scheme. All 4 have pleaded not responsible.
Nadine Menendez might be tried individually this summer time. A fifth alleged co-conspirator, Jose Uribe, pleaded responsible and testified for the federal government as a cooperating witness.
Sellinger was not initially really useful by Bob Menendez for the US legal professional nomination, a choice prosecutors recommend was tied to his unwillingness to entertain the senator’s considerations in regards to the Daibes case. Sellinger testified final week that he informed Menendez he must recuse himself from any points regarding Daibes due to a previous authorized entanglement with the developer.
Former Menendez adviser Michael Soliman described the behind-the-scenes push for a substitute for Sellinger in his testimony Tuesday. In the end, Soliman mentioned, Menendez determined to advocate then-Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez to the White Home. However that alternative confronted harsh and quick blowback centered on Suarez’s dealing with of a rape accusation a volunteer for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s 2017 campaign made towards Murphy staffer Al Alvarez. Suarez didn’t carry fees towards Alvarez, whom she had recognized for greater than a decade.
A subsequent probe by then-New Jersey Lawyer Common Gurbir Grewal discovered that Suarez had not acted inappropriately. (Grewal testified earlier in the trial that Menendez tried to meddle in a separate case, though he too mentioned underneath cross-examination that the senator didn’t ask him to place his thumb on the scales of justice.)
Soliman described to the courtroom in excruciating element his work to fend off essential press experiences about Suarez and handle the general public notion of Menendez, who was coming underneath hearth for backing her. After a couple of ham-handed makes an attempt by Suarez to defend herself to native media retailers and, finally, the Biden administration’s refusal to appoint her, Solimon mentioned he and Menendez went trying to find a “Plan B.”
Round that time, within the spring or summer time of 2021, Solimon mentioned he had one other dialog with Sellinger. This time, Sellinger informed Solimon that he wouldn’t, in any case, must recuse himself from the Daibes case if he was nominated and confirmed. Sellinger, although, was having problem getting an viewers with Menendez, so he handed the message alongside to Solimon, he testified.
“In the event you name Sellinger,” Solimon mentioned he informed Menendez after the assembly, “you’ll be comfy with what he says.”
With Suarez’s probabilities sunk, Menendez really useful Sellinger for the job he had needed all alongside. The White Home nominated Sellinger, who was confirmed and took workplace in December 2021. However in an about-face, Sellinger did recuse himself from the Daibes case.
Solimon informed the courtroom that Menendez requested him to search out out why Sellinger modified his thoughts, describing the senator as “inquisitive” and “confused” however not indignant when informed of the choice. Solimon informed Menendez he would contact Sellinger, he testified, however by no means did.
Sellinger and Solimon would, nevertheless, finally get collectively for a meal. However earlier than they might sit down, Solimon recalled, Sellinger warned him towards mentioning any particular, ongoing felony case, telling him he must report something of the kind to the Justice Division. Solimon mentioned he by no means raised the Daibes case.
Menendez, after being informed in regards to the interplay, expressed some remorse, Solimon mentioned.
“I’m sorry you needed to undergo that,” he informed his shut aide, then dropped it.
Menendez, although, remained frosty towards Sellinger, who testified that the senator rejected an invite to his investiture ceremony.
“I’m going to move,” Menendez mentioned, in line with Sellinger, including: “The one factor worse than not having a relationship with the US legal professional is folks pondering you could have a relationship with the US legal professional – and also you don’t.”
Prosecutors mentioned in courtroom Tuesday morning that they plan to relaxation their case on June 25. Protection attorneys mentioned they hope to relaxation their case in time for the jury to be charged by the week of July 8.
There is no such thing as a courtroom Wednesday for the Juneteenth vacation, and the trial will resume Thursday.