US Senator Robert Menendez and his wife, Nadine, have reportedly sought to exclude details about their luxe life from their forthcoming corruption trial. The prosecutors in the case have listed expenditure evidence which includes cigars, designer handbags, jewellery, and gourmet meals enjoyed by the couple.
Legal counsel representing the senator and his wife took objection to this proposed evidence in the New York federal court on a recent Friday. The couple is facing accusations of accepting bribes in different forms – cash, gold bars, and a vehicle – in return for political favours extended to three entrepreneurs.
According to lawyers for Menendez and his wife, jurors should not be informed about their client’s “affinity for high-end luxury products” — these range from Menendez’s taste for Bombay Sapphire Gin and cigars to fine dining on a restrained salary, and from Nadine’s wardrobe of expensive handbags.
This story has been covered by Bloomberg and can be read in full here. As this case unfolds, it is certain that the legal community – a mix of attorneys, legal scholars, and law students – will keep a close watch on both the judicial proceedings and the pertinent legal strategies employed by both the defense and prosecution.