Bob Menendez’s Wife’s Trial Postponed Again Amid Cancer Treatment

NEW YORK — The federal bribery and corruption trial of Nadine Menendez, wife of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, has been postponed to March 18 after her physician requested a delay due to her ongoing treatment for breast cancer. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein granted the adjournment, citing medical necessity, but warned that no further delays would be allowed without compelling evidence.

The trial, originally set for Feb. 5, marks the latest development in a case that has already seen multiple delays. Nadine Menendez, who faces charges similar to her husband and three New Jersey businessmen, was diagnosed with breast cancer last spring, leading to the separation of her trial from the others. Her attorney, Barry Coburn, argued that her treatment schedule and the upcoming sentencing of her husband and co-defendants would complicate jury selection.

Bob Menendez, who resigned from the Senate in August, was convicted in a nine-week trial last year on charges of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction, and acting as a foreign agent. Prosecutors alleged that he and his wife accepted cash, gold bars, and a luxury car in exchange for political favors. His co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, were also convicted and are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 29.

In a letter to Judge Stein, Coburn emphasized the challenges of selecting an impartial jury given the high-profile nature of the case and the proximity of the sentencing. He also submitted a sealed medical document detailing Nadine Menendez’s condition and treatment plan. “No further adjournments of the trial date will be granted absent a clear showing of medical necessity,” Stein wrote in his order.

This is the second time the prosecution has faced issues with evidence in the case. Last year, the U.S. attorney‘s office discovered that inadmissible evidence had been uploaded to the jury’s laptop, prompting a request for a new trial. The error was the second of its kind during the proceedings.

Nadine Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, was initially set to stand trial alongside her husband last spring. However, her diagnosis led to the separation of the cases. Her trial is now scheduled to begin in March, pending no further medical complications.