Pretrial conference set for Nadine Arslanian Menendez; first move since trial was delayed

A pretrial conference for the bribery and corruption trial of Nadine Arslanian Menendez has been scheduled for December, the first move forward since the trial was delayed because of her breast cancer diagnosis.

Arslanian Menendez, the wife of Sen. Bob Menendez, was charged — along with her husband and three New Jersey businessmen, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe — with being part of a bribery scheme. Menendez and his wife allegedly received, among other things, cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for his using his political influence.

Menendez was found guilty on 16 counts in his own federal case and has filed for acquittal and asked for a new trial.

Arslanian Menendez faces 15 of the 18 charges of her co-defendants, who all received guilty verdicts after a nine-week trial. She was initially supposed to be tried alongside her co-defendants, even after asking that the trials be severed. They were eventually separated because of her diagnosis.

No firm trial date has been set for Arslanian Menendez, but Judge Sidney Stein of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York informed everyone to keep their trial calendars clear for January and February 2025.

The prosecution requested the Dec. 9 date to receive updated medical reports, review more discovery and "engage in discussions with the Government concerning a possible disposition of this matter." Sealed medical documents were filed in the Southern District court last week.

The federal indictment against Menendez was first unsealed last September and was updated with superseding indictments three times — in October, January and March.

During the nine-week trial, Menendez's attorneys blamed Arslanian Menendez, but federal prosecutor Lara Pomerantz told jurors that Menendez used his wife as a go-between for the schemes and business dealings that resulted in their receiving cash and gold bars.

Menendez believes the government failed to prove that he took any official acts and that his actions were in exchange for things of value. Daibes and Hana filed similar motions.

The three are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29.

Arslanian Menendez is scheduled to provide a status report from her doctor under seal before Nov. 22.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Pretrial conference set for Nadine Arslanian Menendez; first move since trial was delayed