Sen. Bob Menendez’s lawyer tells jury in closing that prosecutors failed to prove a single charge

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for Sen. Bob Menendez at the Democrat’s bribery trial has urged jurors to acquit him of every charge, saying prosecutors had failed to prove a single count beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense attorney began his summation Tuesday afternoon before a New York City federal court jury. He spoke after a prosecutor finished about five hours of argument in which he said Menendez had engaged in “wildly abnormal” behavior. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted bribes including gold and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from three New Jersey businessmen. His trial entered its ninth week on Monday.