The judge denies the delay in the former senator’s sentence. Bob Menéndez, moves his wife’s trial to February

Former New Jersey Senator. Bob Menendez He will be sentenced on corruption charges as scheduled in late January, and his wife’s trial will be moved from January to February, a judge said Monday.

U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan rejected Menendez’s motion. Request for postponement of his sentence. for his conviction on bribery and other charges until his wife finishes her trial on similar charges, possibly sometime in March.

The Democrat’s lawyers last week requested a new sentencing date, arguing that the jury chosen to hear the case against his wife, Nadine Menendez, would be tainted if jurors learned of the outcome of the former senator’s sentencing during the trial. judgment.

Menendez, 70 years old, He was sentenced in July of 16 corruption charges brought by prosecutors who alleged that he used his power in the Senate during a five-year period through 2022 to do favors that benefited three New Jersey businessmen who paid him in gold bullion, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

Two of the businessmen were convicted along with Menendez, while a third pleaded guilty, cooperated with the government and testified against him.

Nadine Menéndez pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was originally going to be tried alongside her husband, but her trial was postponed after a breast cancer diagnosis. led to surgery. Stein moved his trial from January 21 to Monday to February 5. Her husband, as expected, will be sentenced on January 29.