Menendez jury hung; judge says to continue

NEWARK, N.J. — The jury in the bribery trial of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy donor and friend told the judge it couldn’t reach a verdict on Monday on any of the 18 counts against them, prompting the judge to order it to return on Tuesday to continue deliberating.

The development capped a tumultuous day that began with defense attorneys arguing with U.S. District Judge William Walls over a different issue: public comments made last week by a juror who had been excused for a vacation.

The juror told reporters she and others were in favor of acquittal but she anticipated a hung jury. Defense attorneys pressed the judge to question jurors, who have been told repeatedly not to read reports about the case, on whether any had heard the juror’s comments.

Four jurors and three alternates had, but after questioning them in private, the judge directed the jury to restart deliberations with an alternate replacing the excused juror.

Three hours later, the jurors said they couldn’t “reach a unanimous verdict on any of the charges.” The judge instructed them to “have a good meal and good sleep” and return Tuesday.

The government has spent more than two years investigating the New Jersey senator’s ties with Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen before indicting them in the spring of 2015.