In a devastating day in court for New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez Monday, a federal judge threw out the defense’s motion for acquittal, which was made last Thursday when the prosecution rested its case. In his decision, the judge noted that “a rational jury could conclude the defendants entered into a quid pro quo agreement.” But despite the damning development, the liberal Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) continued their utter denial of the trial’s existence.
The absence of the latest Menendez trial development from Monday’s evening broadcasts of the Big Three Networks was a continuation of their almost complete blackout of the Democrat’s corruption charges. CBS once did a new brief lasting a mere few seconds while ABC and NBC have never touched it period.
In a welcome shift, Univision's national evening newscast did produce a report on the ruling against the most prominent Latino Democrat in the United States Congress, while its main rival, Telemundo, did not.
“Back here at home crushing setback tonight for Senator Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat’s bid to have a judge throw out much of the corruption case against him was rejected by that judge today,” announced Fox News Channel Anchor Bret Baier during Special Report. “Every single charge will stand as the trial now moves forward.”
Menendez is facing a dozen charges of corruption, including bribery, but on Thursday his lawyers claimed the prosecution’s case, which lasted some 18 days, held no water. As paraphrased by Fox News Channel’s David Lee Miller: “Attorneys for Menendez tried to convince the judge that the prosecution's case is so weak shouldn't even be heard by a jury.”
“The main motion was based on a 2016 Supreme Court decision that overturned the conviction of Virginia Republican Governor Bob McDonnell,” Miller added. “That ruling more narrowly defined what constitutes bribery. It has already resulted in a couple high-profile corruption cases being overturned.”
But the defense was prepared for just such an occurrence. “The defense, failing in its efforts to end the trail, put its first witness on the stand: The Senator's own son Robert Menendez Jr,” Miller reported. “He testified that Dr. Melgen and his father were as close as brothers, supporting the defense claim that this was a case of one friend helping out another, not bribery.”
And after noting that Menendez asked for people to pray for him as he was walking into court, Miller quipped about how “there was no divine intervention today.” And according to him, Menendez showed little emotion when “the judge said, quote: ‘A rational jury could conclude the defendants entered into a quid pro quo agreement.’”
Instead of covering the corruption trial of a Democrat, or how his Democratic colleagues were still donating money to re-elect him, the Big Three Networks were praising infamous NFL QB Colin Kaepernick for suing the NFL with claims of collusion to keep him out of a job.
Transcript below:
Fox News Channel
Special Report
October 16, 2017
6:10:37 PM EasternBRET BAIER: Back here at home crushing setback tonight for Senator Bob Menendez, the New Jersey Democrat’s bid to have a judge throw out much of the corruption case against him was rejected by that judge today. Every single charge will stand as the trial now moves forward. Correspondent David Lee Miller reports tonight from Newark.
[Cuts to video]
DAVID LEE MILLER: When New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez walked into federal court this morning for day 19 of his bribery trial, a lot was at stake. This was decision day. The judge was to rule on defense motions, asking for Menendez to be acquitted on all 12 criminal charges.
The main motion was based on a 2016 Supreme Court decision that overturned the conviction of Virginia Republican Governor Bob McDonnell. That ruling more narrowly defined what constitutes bribery. It has already resulted in a couple high-profile corruption cases being overturned.
Attorneys for Menendez tried to convince the judge that the prosecution's case is so weak shouldn't even be heard by a jury. The Senator who always refuses to discuss the details of the case, briefly responded to the question of a possible acquittal when entering the courthouse.
BOB MENENDEZ: Open your lips to God’s ears.
MILLER: There was no divine intervention today. Menendez was stoic as the judge ruled against tossing out any of the charges. The judge said, quote: "A rational jury could conclude the defendants entered into a quid pro quo agreement."
Menendez is accused of accepting free travel and campaign contributions in exchange for using his influence to help South Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in business deals and getting visas for the doctor's foreign girlfriends. The defense, failing in its efforts to end the trail, put its first witness on the stand: The Senator's own son Robert Menendez Jr. He testified that Dr. Melgen and his father was close as brothers, supporting the defense claim that this was a case of one friend helping out another, not bribery.
[Cuts back to live]
The prosecution, meanwhile, attempted to poke holes in the defense, pointing out inconsistencies with testimony from the Senator's son and what he told a grand jury three years ago. So far, no indication if Senator Menendez will take the stand.
