Judge hits case vs. Menendez

THE JUDGE IN the bribery trial of 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 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, Newark Federal 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.