Menendez judge appears to cast doubt on prosecution’s case

NEWARK, N.J. — The judge in the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy friend delayed ruling Wednesday on whether to grant the defense’s motion to dismiss the charges against them, but in doing so he appeared to indicate he has doubts about a legal concept at the heart of the government’s case.

During more than three hours of arguments from both sides after the prosecution rested, U.S. District Judge William Walls expressed reservations that prosecutors have shown direct links between alleged bribes by Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen and meetings and other interactions Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, had with government officials, allegedly to advance Melgen’s business interests.

The indictment alleges Melgen plied Menendez, a longtime friend, over several years with gifts that included free flights to the Dominican Republic on his private jet and stays at luxury hotels. Prosecutors allege those were bribes under what is known as the stream of benefits theory, in which Melgen essentially kept Menendez on retainer and asked him for favors “as opportunities arose,” according to the indictment.