Prosecutors attempt to link Sen. Bob Menendez's alleged bribes to federal prosecutor appointment

NEW YORK — Prosecutors in the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez used testimony Tuesday from his former campaign manager to try to link the Democrat's alleged bribes to the New Jersey attorney general nomination three years ago.

Michael Soliman, a former political adviser to Menendez, testified immediately after New Jersey U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger spent two days on the witness stand in the trial in Manhattan federal court, which is currently underway. its sixth week.

Menendez, 70, and two New Jersey businessmen are on trial on charges alleging the senator accepted gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a luxury car from businessmen from 2018 to 2022 in exchange for their help in their business dealings, including trying to interfere in legal matters.

They pleaded not guilty. A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against them. Menendez's wife also pleaded not guilty in the case, although her trial was delayed after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sellinger testified last week that Menendez told him that if he recommended that he be named New Jersey's chief federal prosecutor, he hoped he would consider a criminal case against Fred Dabies, a prominent New Jersey real estate developer, because he thought he was “being treated unfairly”.

Sellinger said he told Menendez the next day that he should inform the Justice Department that he might have to be recused from the Dabies case because he had worked on a trial while in private practice which was unfavorable to Dabies.

Menendez then recommended someone else for the job, and Soliman testified Tuesday that a top Menendez aide told him in December 2020 that the senator and Sellinger “had been arguing.”

Soliman said that after the new nominee's nomination failed following a series of negative press reports about her, Sellinger told him he wanted the senator to know that he had checked with the department of Justice and learned that “the problem” he thought would be After all, he did not demand his recusal.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal asked Soliman if there was any confusion expressed by Menendez about the “problem” when he relayed the conversation to the senator.

“No,” Soliman said.

Soliman, who said he did not know what “the problem” was that Sellinger referred to, also said Menendez did not ask any questions regarding the message Sellinger conveyed.

Sellinger, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, was sworn in as U.S. attorney in December 2021 and has served in the role since.

Sellinger, testifying last week, recalled his conversation with Soliman differently, saying he told Soliman exactly what he told the senator: that he expected him to be recused from the case Daibes because of the civil case he had worked on that was unfavorable to Daibes. .

Sellinger said he called Menendez in the spring of 2022 to invite him to speak at a public ceremony celebrating Sellinger's nomination to be U.S. attorney.

“He said, ‘I’m going to make it,’” Sellinger recalled.

Sellinger said the senator then said, “The only thing worse than not having a relationship with the United States Attorney is people thinking you have a relationship with the United States Attorney and that this is not the case. »

Sellinger testified under cross-examination last week and Tuesday favorably about the senator, saying in part that he never believed Menendez asked him to do anything inappropriate or unethical .

Encouraged by Sellinger's testimony during cross-examination, Menendez left the courthouse Tuesday looking optimistic, saying just before getting into his car: “Sellinger was very clear.” He was asked not to do anything wrong. And he didn't.

Dabies, who is on trial with Menendez, contracted COVID last week, forcing a three-day delay in a trial that is now expected to extend into July. After Wednesday's break, the trial resumes on Thursday.