Senator Bob Menendez reveals wife has breast cancer as his criminal trial begins

Senator Bob Menendez revealed his wife, Nadine Menendez, is fighting breast cancerone day after blaming her for the criminal bribery charges he faces.

“As a result of constant press inquiries and reporters following my wife, she has asked me to disclose her medical condition,” Menendez said in a statement on Thursday. “Nadine is suffering from Grade 3 breast cancer, which will require her to have mastectomy surgery.”

“ We are of course, concerned about the seriousness and advanced stage of the disease,” he continued. “She will require follow up surgery and possibly radiation treatment. We hope and pray for the best results.”

Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey men Wael Hana, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe were indicted in September 2023 over a scheme that allegedly saw the couple accept gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and payments for a Mercedes convertible in exchange for his political influence.

The lawmaker’s actions ultimately benefitted the Egyptian and Qatari governments, according to prosecutors.

The 70-year-old New Jersey democrat now faces 16 federal charges, including bribery, acting as a foreign agent, obstruction of justice and extortion. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all wrongdoing.

Menendez has pleaded not guilty and blames his wife for accepting gold bars, cash payments and hiding them from him, his defense lawyer suggested during opening statements at his trial on Wednesday.

Menendez’s lawyer Avi Weitzman told the jury that the senator knew nothing of the gold bars and cash, which had been recovered from his New Jersey home in June 2022. He argued that it was his wife who accepted the lavish bribes, hid them from her husband and then served as a messenger between the senator, his co-defendants and Egyptian officials.

Menendez is on trial with Mr Daibes, a real estate developer, and businessman Mr Hana. They too have pleaded not guilty.

Mr Uribe previously took a plea deal, while Ms Menendez will be tried separately later this year. In previous court filings, she cited recovery from a serious medical condition — which has now been revealed to be breast cancer.

The senator’s trial, which began Wednesday after two days of jury selection, is expected to last six to seven weeks.