The Trial of Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)

[Gass3268]

The Supreme Court ruling that McDonnell did nothing wrong in Virginia really makes it hard to get convictions in cases like these.

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

#JUSTFINDHIMGUILTYALREADY

[Ebsy]

Conviction is looking like an increasingly remote possibility.

[Heisenberg]

#JUSTFINDHIMGUILTYALREADY

[BudgieForce]

So if anybody is following this, I'm leaning towards Menendez getting off. So far the prosecution has not shown a clear case of bribery. Im predicting, at worst, a hung jury. Then the government will try to re-prosecute and we can do this all over again. 

I stick by my prediction from 2 months ago.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Even if he isn't convicted he's gonna get primaried out next year.

EDIT: spelling error

[BudgieForce]

Even if he isn't convicted he's gonna get primaries out next year.

I doubt it. Most NJ voters wont even remember this in a year.

[Gass3268]

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[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

#JUSTFINDHIMGUILTYALREADY

[Gass3268]

#JUSTFINDHIMGUILTYALREADY

It's looking like that won't happen, mistrial seems the most likely scenario. You can thank the Supreme Court and their decision in the McDonnell case. Makes it almost impossible now to convict someone for corruption.

[Oryxslayer]

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Maybe its just me, but this smells like the jury could be divided purely on partisanship, or it could be that the court has already assumed guilt, it is just Dems are stalling until its too late for the ball to get rolling on a Christie appointment. Or I'm wrong and the court is actually divided over substance.

[KingSweden]

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Maybe its just me, but this smells like the jury could be divided purely on partisanship, or it could be that the court has already assumed guilt, it is just Dems are stalling until its too late for the ball to get rolling on a Christie appointment. Or I'm wrong and the court is actually divided over substance.

Or, as often happens, the prosecutors failed to make a compelling case

[Gass3268]

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Menendez (probably) walks free

[Skunk]

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Menendez (probably) walks free

Disappointing but not surprising.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I'm disgusted with this jury. Likely decided to make this all about partisan politics. Bribery is Bribery and Menendez should be in Prison, not the Senate.

[Gass3268]

I'm disgusted with this jury. Likely decided to make this all about partisan politics. Bribery is Bribery and Menendez should be in Prison, not the Senate.

You can thank Governor Bob McDonnell and the Supreme Court.

[Gass3268]

Lol, the jury was much closer to acquittal.

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No way they are going to try again.

[Heisenberg]

I'm disgusted with this jury. Likely decided to make this all about partisan politics. Bribery is Bribery and Menendez should be in Prison, not the Senate.

I totally agree!

[MAINEiac4434]

Menendez was almost definitely innocent given the high standard for bribery set in McConnell. Cynically, I only see this as good for Republicans – he is easily the weakest Democrat who could run for his seat in 2018. His defense was essentially "it's not bribery, just favoritism for a wealthy friend." Keeping him out of prison and on the ballot is terrible for Democrats.

The seat is still Solid D, especially if he loses to a primary challenger like Wisniewski, but at least this keeps it in long shot territory with the right candidate.

I think you mean "not guilty."